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

Turkey has successfully conducted a long-range test of its medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, Hisar-O, showing a step forward in the development of the country’s national air defense network, “Steel Dome.” During the test, a Hisar-O battery launched a missile that hit a target over 40 kilometers away with extreme precision, demonstrating the advanced capabilities of the system. The Hisar-O SAM is expected 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 next-generation configuration, is expected to be delivered by the end of 2024.

The Turkish “Steel Dome” project, approved by the Defense Industry Executive Committee under the presidency of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, aims to integrate the country’s various air defense assets into a unified, real-time operational network. This network will rely on artificial intelligence to provide decision-makers with precise and up-to-date data, thereby improving response times to potential threats. The project is led by Aselsan, Turkey’s leading defense electronics manufacturer, which will play a crucial role in developing the key components of the Steel Dome. Aselsan’s expertise will be critical in the initial defense layer, designed to counter short-range threats within a 10-kilometer radius.

The Hisar missile family, which includes the short-range Hisar-A and medium-range Hisar-O missiles, has been developed by Roketsan and Aselsan since 2007. While Roketsan focuses on missile development, Aselsan is responsible for creating sensors and electronic systems. The family also includes the long-range Hisar-U missile, which has evolved into the Siper long-range air defense system. Turkey has sought to develop an independent air defense system due to dissatisfaction with its NATO allies, particularly the lack of sufficient support in missile defense. 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 medium-range SAM system that is vertically launched and mounted on a Mercedes-Benz Zetros chassis. The missile has a minimum range of 3 kilometers and can engage targets over 25 kilometers away 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 drones. The Hisar-O is equipped with a detection and tracking range for fighters between 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 up to the battalion level, the system includes nine missile launcher vehicles, extending its firepower to at least 54 missiles.