SİPER Deliveries & Inventory: When Did It Enter Service, What Is Its Range? (2026)

SİPER is a ground-based long-range air defense system providing regional protection against high-altitude, long-range air threats. It can engage aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and UAVs beyond the range of other defensive layers.

It is an integrated structure of a fleet control center, search radar, fire control center, fire control radar and missile launchers. SİPER is a strategic program localizing the long-range air-defense layer Türkiye long relied on imports (e.g. S-400) for.

SİPER is operated by the Turkish Armed Forces, deployed as the top (long-range) layer of the Steel Dome air-defense architecture.

On 27 August 2025, the first 10-vehicle SİPER system was delivered at a ceremony attended by the President; after the December 2025 full-battery acceptance firing, the system was declared operational in January 2026.

SİPER’s development firings took place in 2021–2022. After the first delivery on 27 August 2025, the full-battery acceptance firing at Sinop in December 2025 proved the system ready, and SİPER-1 entered service in January 2026.

In October 2025, the SİPER-1D version was successfully fired from the indigenous MIDLAS vertical launch system, placing Türkiye among the select nations able to launch a long-range air defense missile from a ship.

SİPER is developed in block versions of progressively greater range. The first-delivered Block-1 (Product-1) has a range of about 100 km and above. The developed Block-2 (Product-2) will exceed 150 km, with a longer, larger-diameter missile to engage targets at higher altitude and distance.

SİPER works not alone but as the top layer of Türkiye’s Steel Dome air- and missile-defense architecture. The layered structure can be summarised as:

• SUNGUR — very short range / portable (~8 km)
• HİSAR A+ — short range (~15 km)
• HİSAR O+ — medium range (25–40+ km)
• SİPER — long range / area defense (100+ km)

These layers are linked by ASELSAN’s integrated command-control network, countering threats at different ranges and altitudes from a single center. SİPER forms the long-range shield of this architecture.

SİPER belongs to the same class as the US Patriot, Russia’s S-400 and Europe’s SAMP/T. With a 100+ km Block-1 range and a 150+ km Block-2 in development, it offers an indigenous alternative to these long-range systems.

Its real strategic significance is that, after the disputes following Türkiye’s S-400 purchase, this critical capability is now obtained fully indigenously. Software, targeting and range updates can be made independently, removing potential embargo risks.

SİPER is the joint product of three major domestic institutions: ASELSAN develops the search/fire-control radars and command-control elements, ROKETSAN the missile and rocket motor, and TÜBİTAK-SAGE the warhead.

This collaboration shows Türkiye can combine its most critical technologies — radar, missile and warhead — in a single long-range system. SİPER is one of the peak products of the domestic defense industry’s integration capability.

SİPER ends Türkiye’s dependence in long-range air defense. After the political disputes during the S-400 process, obtaining this strategic capability indigenously is a critical national-security gain.

Within the Steel Dome, SİPER works with the HİSAR and SUNGUR layers below it to form a multi-layered, network-centric air-defense shield — great value for both deterrence and future exports.

SİPER is Türkiye’s indigenous long-range area air and missile defense system, developed by ASELSAN, ROKETSAN and TÜBİTAK-SAGE. It protects against aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and UAVs at high altitude and long range.

The first SİPER system (10 vehicles) was delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces on 27 August 2025. After a full-battery acceptance firing at Sinop in December 2025, SİPER-1 entered operational service in January 2026 and was integrated into the Steel Dome network.

The Block-1 (Product-1) version has a range of about 100 km and above. The developed Block-2 (Product-2) will exceed 150 km (180 km target), with Block-3 planned to extend range further.

ASELSAN developed the search/fire-control radars and command-control elements, ROKETSAN the missile and rocket motor, and TÜBİTAK-SAGE the warhead. The contract was signed with SSB in 2018.

SİPER is an indigenous system in the same class as the S-400 and Patriot, placing Türkiye among the select nations producing their own long-range air defense missile.

Yes. SİPER-1D was successfully tested from the indigenous MIDLAS vertical launch system in October 2025, set to give Turkish ships long-range area air defense.