(Bloomberg) — Turkey is taking a major step toward becoming a global military elite by testing a missile that would put much of Europe and the Middle East within range and eventually lead to the launch of real-time intelligence satellites, according to people familiar with the plans.
The country demonstrated an intercontinental ballistic missile at an exhibition this week, joining the US, Russia and just a handful of other powers that possess the weapons. Turkey’s ICBM has a range of 6,000 kilometers (3,750 miles) and is scheduled to be tested in Somalia by the end of this year at the earliest, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of sensitive defense issues.
The surprise addition of the Yildirimhan missile, named after an Ottoman sultan, marks progress towards joining the space arms race. Turkey will use similar technology to put satellites into orbit designed to boost the NATO member’s independent operational capabilities, the people said.
“We believe we would only use it as a deterrent, but if we ever need to use it, no one should doubt that we will do so without hesitation,” Defense Minister Yasar Guler said while visiting the SAHA defense fair in Istanbul, where the Yildirimhan version was on display on Tuesday. “We will consider using it in the most efficient way possible.”
The US-Israeli war against neighboring Iran has fueled Turkey’s efforts to increase its deterrence. ICBMs are usually associated with nuclear weapons, which Turkey does not have. But Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in February that the country could be drawn into a regional nuclear arms race due to concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Turkey’s defense ministry declined to comment on plans to test the missile, which can carry a 3,000-kilogram (6,600-pound) warhead and is powered by liquid fuel. Earth would use a new spaceport in Somalia starting in the fall and burn toward the Indian Ocean, the people said.
The government in Somalia, where the Turkish military operates its largest overseas base, said the spaceport project with Turkey is primarily for civilian use for science and technology programs.
“Somalia sees the partnership as an opportunity to attract investment, create jobs, build technical expertise and expand cooperation in satellite and space technologies that can support communications, climate monitoring, education and economic development,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Mohamed Omar said in response to questions about Turkey’s plans.
Turkey is busy expanding its arsenal. It began expanding the production of Tayfun-1 ballistic missiles, which have a range of at least 560 kilometers. According to people familiar with the situation, it plans to test an advanced model of the Tayfun-4, which is expected to fly more than 2,000 kilometers from Somalia. It also developed the Cenk missile, which has a range of 3,000 kilometers.
Meanwhile, Turkey is developing an anti-missile defense shield, nicknamed the “Steel Dome”. The project gained urgency after NATO forces intercepted four missiles fired from Iran at Turkey since the start of the Iran war.
“Regional missile threats and the desire for defense-industrial autonomy have motivated Ankara to build a broad portfolio of ballistic and cruise missiles,” defense analysts Sitki Egeli and Arda Mevlutoglu said in a research paper published last week by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “The Turkish political leadership sees clear value in holding a credible and ever-remote inventory of ballistic and cruise systems for deterrence and, failing that, for war.”
Turkey has Nato’s largest military after the US and is preparing to host the alliance’s next summit in July in Ankara to highlight its role in Europe’s security, with the prospect of US troop withdrawals from the continent.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long supported Turkey’s efforts to develop an independent defense industry capable of producing warplanes, tanks, high-flying drones, frigates and now missiles for both export and domestic use.
Drone manufacturer Baykar this week signed a framework agreement with an Indonesian company to work on Turkey’s first jet-powered fighter drone.
–With help from Simon Marks.
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