Guide to ASELSAN Air Defense Systems
ASELSAN air defense systems form the electronic and fire-control backbone of Turkey’s multi-layered air defense architecture. Air defense logic is layered: guns and short-range missiles at low altitude form the first line, while medium- and long-range systems set up the wider umbrella behind them. ASELSAN provides the radar, fire control and command-and-control electronics at each of these layers, working largely with ROKETSAN on the missile body. The approach that unites all these layers under a single architecture is called the “Steel Dome.” This guide introduces the systems in order of range and role.
ASELSAN air defense layers
| System | Type / layer | Note |
|---|---|---|
| SUNGUR | Shoulder-launched missile (MANPADS) | Very short range, portable air defense |
| KORKUT | 35 mm gun mount | Low altitude, rapid-fire gun defense |
| GÖKER | 35 mm air defense system | Gun-based low-altitude defense |
| GÜRZ | Hybrid gun + missile | Combines gun and missile on one platform |
| HİSAR-A/O/U | Short/medium/long-range missile family | Low, medium and high-altitude layers |
| SİPER | Long-range air defense | High-altitude/long-range umbrella |
| GÖKBERK | Laser (directed energy) | Laser-based defense against drones |
| Steel Dome | Multi-layered architecture | Unites all layers in one network |
Short-range and gun layer: SUNGUR, KORKUT, GÖKER
The nearest layer holds portable and gun-based systems. SUNGUR is a short-range air defense missile launched from the shoulder or a vehicle (MANPADS = man-portable air defense system), used against low-flying helicopters, drones and aircraft. KORKUT is a 35 mm rapid-fire gun mount that pours dense fire onto low-altitude targets using data from its air defense radar. GÖKER is likewise a 35 mm-class gun-based low-altitude solution. At this layer, ASELSAN’s role is the whole of the radar, fire control and aiming electronics.
Medium layer: GÜRZ and the HİSAR family
GÜRZ is a hybrid air defense system that combines gun and missile on a single platform, offering both types of defense on the same turret. The HİSAR family is the backbone of Turkey’s medium layer: HİSAR-A for low altitude, HİSAR-O for medium altitude and HİSAR-U for a higher layer. In HİSAR systems the radar and fire control are ASELSAN’s while the missile is ROKETSAN’s, and export successes include Azerbaijan (HİSAR-A) and Kuwait (HİSAR-O).
Long range and next generation: SİPER and GÖKBERK
The outermost ring of the layered defense is SİPER, the national long-range air defense system built to raise a wide protective umbrella at high altitude and long distance. Here too, the radar and command-and-control electronics are ASELSAN’s, while the missile is provided by ROKETSAN and partners. On the forward-looking layer sits GÖKBERK: a laser-based system working on the directed-energy principle (DEW = a weapon that neutralizes a target with a high-energy beam), offering low-cost defense especially against small drone threats.
Steel Dome: the architecture that unites the layers
Steel Dome is the multi-layered air and missile defense architecture that turns all the systems above from separate weapons into a single integrated network. Its aim is to coordinate sensors and weapons at different ranges and altitudes through common command-and-control software, so that the most suitable layer responds to a given threat. ASELSAN is among the main developers of the sensor network and command-and-control layer in this architecture; the system is a joint product of the domestic industry (ASELSAN, ROKETSAN and others).
FAQ
Does ASELSAN make air defense missiles?
In air defense systems, ASELSAN provides the radar, fire control and command-and-control electronics, while the missile body and motor are largely ROKETSAN’s responsibility. The two companies work in a complementary way.
What is the Steel Dome?
The Steel Dome is a multi-layered national air and missile defense architecture that unites systems of different ranges and altitudes, such as KORKUT, HİSAR, SİPER and GÖKBERK, under a single command-and-control network.
What is the difference between HİSAR and SİPER?
The HİSAR family targets the low and medium-altitude layers (HİSAR-A/O/U), while SİPER covers the high-altitude, long-range outermost layer. SİPER is a wider umbrella above HİSAR.
How does GÖKBERK work?
GÖKBERK works on the directed-energy (laser) principle, focusing a high-energy beam on the target to neutralize small drones in particular. Because it consumes no rounds or missiles, its cost per engagement is very low.
Sources
- ASELSAN — Air Defense Systems product pages (aselsan.com, accessed July 2026).
- Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) — Steel Dome and air defense program statements.
- ASELSAN 2025 Annual Report (for air defense exports).
