Turkish Roketsan aims to become global leader in ballistic missile technology

Roketsan is positioning itself as a leading force in ballistic missile technology, with plans to expand exports and accelerate development, CEO Murat Ikinci announced during the Global Strategies in Defense and Aerospace Conference in Antalya.

Speaking at the event, Ikinci emphasized Türkiye is on track to outpace global competitors in missile technology.

“We will experience a period where our country will be ahead of the rest of the world in ballistic missile development,” Ikinci stated.

Roketsan achieves over 30% growth in 2024

Ikinci highlighted Roketsan’s strong financial performance, reporting over 30% growth in dollar terms for 2024.

“2024 has been a highly successful year for the Turkish defense industry, surpassing $7 billion in international contracts. Roketsan has been a key player in this success,” he said.

He also noted that Roketsan is rapidly climbing the global defense rankings, with ambitions to break into the top 50 defense companies worldwide in the near future.

Expanding into Asia-Pacific markets

Ikinci identified Asia-Pacific as Roketsan’s fastest-growing market, revealing that major defense contracts in the region would soon be announced.

“The Asia-Pacific is currently one of our fastest-growing markets, and we will soon be sharing exciting news regarding large-scale defense agreements,” he stated.

Roketsan is also pursuing joint production projects in the region, while demand in the Middle East and NATO member states continues to rise.

“We are witnessing significant potential in the Middle East, and encouragingly, our partnerships with NATO allies are also expanding. Europe, NATO, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East are now among our top strategic markets,” Ikinci said.

Steel Dome: Türkiye’s AI-powered air defense system

Discussing air defense, Ikinci provided details on Steel Dome, an integrated air defense system developed with Tubitak, Aselsan, and MKE.

“Steel Dome brings together Türkiye’s entire defense ecosystem into a layered air defense system supported by artificial intelligence and machine learning,” Ikinci explained.

The system integrates various missile platforms, including:

• SUNGUR (short-range air defense)
• SIPER (medium-to-long range defense, up to 150 km)

The project aims to rapidly deploy AI-powered air defense systems, with Roketsan leading the development of missile strike capabilities.

Advancements in ballistic missile technology

Ikinci reiterated that Roketsan is spearheading ballistic missile development and making significant strides in long-range cruise missiles.

Among the key advancements:

• Land Atmaca: Rapidly increasing its range and capabilities
• Tayfun: Already in serial production, with further range extensions under development

“We are fully committed to enhancing the range and effectiveness of our missile systems. Our goal is to ensure that Türkiye remains a global leader in ballistic missile technology,” Ikinci said.