Air Defense
SİPER
SİPER is Türkiye’s long-range air and missile defense system, developed by ROKETSAN, ASELSAN and TÜBİTAK SAGE. It forms the long-range layer of the Çelik Kubbe (Steel Dome) network and is meant to reduce Türkiye’s reliance on foreign systems such as Patriot and the S-400.
Türkiye|ROKETSAN, ASELSAN & TÜBİTAK SAGEOverview
SİPER grew out of Türkiye’s long search for a strategic air defense system, a debate shaped by years of Patriot negotiations with the US and the controversial purchase of the Russian S-400. ROKETSAN leads missile development with TÜBİTAK SAGE, while ASELSAN provides the fire-control and surveillance radars. The interceptors are launched vertically, and the system is designed to engage aircraft and missiles at long range as the top layer of Çelik Kubbe.
SİPER Block 1, with a range of about 100 km, entered the Turkish inventory in 2024, the first domestically developed long-range air defense missile fielded by Türkiye. Block 2, reaching roughly 150 km, has been tested, and a Block 3 version with longer range is planned. Officials and media have reported foreign interest in the system, though no export contract has been publicly confirmed. Türkiye remains the only operator.
Key Specifications
Variants
SİPER Block 1 is the initial production version with a range of about 100 km, delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces from 2024.
SİPER Block 2 extends the range to roughly 150 km and has been test-fired as the next step in the program.
SİPER Block 3 is a planned longer-range version intended to push the system’s reach further against aircraft and ballistic missiles.
Operators
TürkiyeFrequently Asked Questions
What is the range of SİPER?
SİPER Block 1 has a range of about 100 km, while the tested Block 2 reaches roughly 150 km. A Block 3 version with an even longer range is planned to extend Türkiye’s long-range air defense coverage.
When did SİPER enter service?
SİPER entered the Turkish inventory in 2024 with the Block 1 version. The longer-range Block 2 has since been tested, and further versions are planned as part of the Çelik Kubbe layered air defense network.
Who makes SİPER?
SİPER is developed by ROKETSAN together with ASELSAN and TÜBİTAK SAGE. ROKETSAN leads the missile work, ASELSAN supplies the fire-control and surveillance radars, and TÜBİTAK SAGE contributes to missile technology development.
SİPER vs S-400: which is better?
The S-400 has a longer published maximum range, up to about 400 km with its longest missile, while SİPER Block 1 and 2 reach roughly 100–150 km. SİPER’s advantage is that it is fully national and can be upgraded without foreign approval.
SİPER vs Patriot: what is the difference?
Patriot has decades of combat use and a PAC-2 GEM-T missile with roughly 160 km range, while SİPER is newer and still extending its reach through Block 2 and Block 3. For Türkiye, SİPER’s main appeal is national control over production and upgrades.
Why did Türkiye develop SİPER?
Türkiye developed SİPER to gain a national long-range air defense capability and reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers. Years of unsuccessful Patriot talks and the sanctions dispute over the S-400 purchase made a domestic system a strategic priority.