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Turkey is set to commence mass production of a newly unveiled hypersonic missile in 2026, according to Roketsan, a Turkish arms manufacturer. Newsweek has reached out to the Turkish Defense Ministry for comment.
**Why It Matters**
By developing the Tayfun Block 4, Turkey joins a select group of nations—including Russia, China, the United States, and Iran—that possess hypersonic missile programs. This signals Ankara’s rise as a significant missile power and reshapes military balances in Eurasia.
Turkey is also rapidly advancing its domestic defense capabilities across multiple domains with heavy military equipment such as its first aircraft carrier and jet fighters. These developments position Turkey as a viable alternative to Western defense suppliers, including NATO allies.
**Key Details**
– **Tayfun Block 4**: A domestically produced ballistic missile capable of sustained speeds above Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound).
– **Capabilities**: Designed to confuse air defense systems, this missile weighs over seven tons and is equipped with a high-explosive blast-fragmentation warhead. It aims to neutralize strategic targets from long distances with high precision.
– **Range**: While the precise range has not been confirmed, The War Zone reported in July that it likely falls into the category of medium-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching distances between 620 and 1,860 miles.
Roketsan’s efforts to advance Turkey’s missile technology and expand its global defense presence took another step with recent tests of its MIDLAS vertical launch system. The Turkish navy frigate TCG Istanbul was the first to receive this system, and Roketsan now seeks to export it.
**Future Plans**
– **Production**: Ikinci announced that test firings of the advanced missile system will soon begin.
– **Expansion**: The Tayfun family is expected to expand into different blocks based on mission type, warhead configuration, and mission requirements.
**Quotations**
– Roketsan general manager Murat Ikinci stated: “Tayfun is already in serial production with deliveries continuing to the Turkish armed forces. But Tayfun is a family. This family will have other members.”
– Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan remarked in 2023: “Currently, the range of our missile is 565 kilometers. It’s not enough; we’re going to increase it to 1,000 kilometers.”
**Additional Information**
Turkey’s defense and aerospace exports grew by nearly 30% year-on-year, reaching a record $7.2 billion in 2024.
