Turkey Unveils First ICBM Yıldırımhan

Turkey unveiled its first intercontinental ballistic missile, named Yıldırımhan, at the SAHA 2026 defense industry expo in Istanbul on Tuesday. Officials described the weapon as the country's longest-range missile to date, with a projected range exceeding 6,000 kilometers, placing it in the intercontinental category.

The missile, developed by a research and development center affiliated with the Turkish Ministry of National Defense and defense contractor ROKETSAN, features speeds between Mach 9 and Mach 25. It employs a liquid-fuel propulsion system powered by four rocket engines using nitrogen tetroxide as the oxidizer, paired with a fuel such as hydrazine. Specifications indicate it can carry a payload of up to three tonnes, potentially including a single warhead or multiple warheads. Details on guidance systems, deployment plans, production timelines, testing, or budgets remain undisclosed.

Defense Minister Yaşar Güler highlighted the Yıldırımhan during the event as a major advancement in Turkey's defense capabilities and its first liquid-fuel design capable of hypersonic flight. He positioned it primarily as a deterrent but emphasized readiness for offensive use. "If we have...