After global powers like the United States, Russia, and China, President Erdoğan’s Türkiye has now entered the elite club of ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) nations. The missile, named “Yildirimhan,” is reportedly capable of traveling at 25 times the speed of sound. According to reports, the missile has a range of nearly 6,000 kilometers, while its greatest threat lies in its extreme speed, which is said to be beyond the interception capability of most modern air defense systems. But Türkiye did not stop there. At the SAHA-2026 defense exhibition, military innovator Selçuk Bayraktar unveiled three new kamikaze drones designed to operate in swarms and bypass advanced radar systems. Türkiye’s message is now clear — it no longer depends on anyone in modern warfare. Although Russia’s Sarmat and North Korea’s Hwasong-20 possess longer ranges, Türkiye’s latest military advancement has already created major geopolitical waves across the Middle East. Amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel, this powerful military showcase has reportedly raised concerns from Washington to Tehran. At the same time, Türkiye is also preparing to deploy a massive “Steel Dome” defense system built with 150 integrated components, making the country both highly defensive and aggressively capable. Reports suggest that the final test of the missile could take place near the Somali coast by the end of 2026. The big question now is: after dominating the drone warfare arena, is Türkiye’s ICBM mission signaling a new leadership role for the Muslim world?
Turkey has powerful missile ‘Yildirimhan’, shaking geopolitics
