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Israel's strike on Hamas negotiators in Qatar demonstrates the increasing influence of air power in international politics. It underscores critical gaps in regional air defense capabilities, according to defense analyst Arda Mevlutoglu.
The attack represents a significant extension of Israel's military reach in the Middle East, following the 12-Day War in June and ongoing strikes in Yemen, Mevlutoglu told state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) on Wednesday.
"The determining and guiding effect of air power in international politics is increasingly evident. Weakness in air power has very serious effects and consequences for national sovereignty. Therefore, making air power superior to regional rivals and ensuring it remains so should be a national security priority," Mevlutoglu said.
According to Israeli media reports, 15 fighter jets participated in the attack, firing 10 munitions. The specific route taken remains unclear, though Mevlutoglu suggested two possibilities.
"The use of F-35Is with radar evasion capabilities is one possibility. Another possibility is that other fighter aircraft types flew 'camouflaged' with electronic warfare," he explained.
Israel's Air Force inventory includes F-15I, F-16I and F-35I aircraft capable of covering the distance to Qatar, along with KC-707 tanker aircraft for aerial refueling. The strike package likely included aircraft dedicated to electronic warfare and escort duties against potential air threats.
The strike demonstrated that integrated air defense architecture extends beyond just missiles and radars, Mevlutoglu emphasized.
"First of all, it has shown that Steel Dome, the integrated air defense architecture, is not just about air defense missiles and radars, but that other elements such as fighter aircraft, airborne early warning aircraft, and air defense destroyers/frigates are also natural elements of this architecture," he stated.
Drawing parallels with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Mevlutoglu noted that Russia's extensive air defense systems, including S-300s, S-400s and early warning radars, have frequently been targeted by Ukrainian missiles and drones over the past three years.
"This shows that having air defense weapons and radar systems alone is not sufficient. All these weapons and sensor systems need to be established to complement each other and kept operational on a 24/7 basis," he said.
The importance of early warning and intelligence in air defense has become evident, according to Mevlutoglu.
"In air defense, the importance of early warning and intelligence has also been seen. A structure that can detect and track potential threats from long distances and very quickly organize the defense and take counter-positions should be established. This requires radar and electronic intelligence systems to work harmoniously," he explained.
He highlighted that the latest Steel Dome components delivered include PUHU and REDET electronic intelligence systems, emphasizing their significance in the integrated defense architecture.
Türkiye's regional neighbors are also modernizing their air forces, with various countries operating or acquiring advanced fighters including F-16s, F-35s, Rafales, Su-30s, MiG-29s, and Eurofighter Typhoons.
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