Turkey Successfully Tests Hisar-O Medium-range Surface-to-air Missile

Turkey has successfully conducted a long-range test of its Hisar-O medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, marking a significant milestone in the development of the country’s “Steel Dome” national air defense network. During the test, a Hisar-O battery launched a missile that struck a target over 40 kilometers away with pinpoint accuracy, demonstrating the system’s advanced capabilities. The Hisar-O SAM is set to become a cornerstone of Turkey’s multi-layered air defense strategy, with plans to enhance its range and effectiveness through next-generation technological advancements. The first batch of these air defense systems, in their new-generation configuration, is expected to be delivered by the end of 2024.

Turkey’s “Steel Dome” project, which was approved by the Defence Industry Executive Committee under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, aims to integrate the country’s diverse air defense assets into a unified, real-time operational network. This network will leverage artificial intelligence to provide decision-makers with timely, accurate data, improving response times to potential threats. The project is led by Aselsan, Turkey’s premier defense electronics manufacturer, which will play a crucial role in developing key components of the Steel Dome. Aselsan’s expertise will be instrumental in the initial defense layer, designed to counter short-range threats within a 10-kilometer radius.

The Hisar missile family, including the short-range Hisar-A and medium-range Hisar-O, has been under development by Roketsan and Aselsan since 2007. While Roketsan focuses on missile development, Aselsan handles the creation of sensors and electronic systems. The family also includes the long-range Hisar-U, which has evolved into the Siper long-range air defense system. Turkey’s pursuit of an independent air defense system has been motivated by dissatisfaction with its NATO allies, particularly the lack of sufficient missile defense support. This frustration led to the controversial acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 missile system, causing a rift with the United States and resulting in Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 fighter jet program.

Hisar-O is a vertical launched medium-range SAM system mounted on a Mercedes-Benz Zetros chassis. The missile features a minimum range of 3 kilometers and can reach targets beyond 25 kilometers using an Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker, while the Radio Frequency (RF) seeker variant extends the range to over 40 kilometers. With a maximum altitude of 15 kilometers, it is capable of engaging a wide spectrum of aerial threats, including fighter jets, cruise missiles, and UAVs. The Hisar-O is equipped with a fighter detection and tracking range of 40 to 60 kilometers, and the system can track more than 60 targets simultaneously. At the battery level, the system deploys three missile launcher vehicles with a combined total of 18 ready-to-fire missiles. When scaled to the battalion level, the system includes nine missile launcher vehicles, expanding its firepower to at least 54 missiles.