Turkey has publicly showcased the Yildirimhan intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time at the SAHA 2026 defense exhibition in Istanbul, marking a major step in the country’s push to expand its long-range strategic strike capabilities.
Turkish Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler inaugurated the stand where the missile appeared, using the presentation to highlight Ankara’s growing defense production capacity and technological ambitions.
The Yildirimhan’s design also carries strong symbolic references. One side features the Ottoman imperial seal of Sultan Bayezid I, while the nose section displays the signature of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Together, these markings appear to connect Turkey’s imperial past and republican identity with its modern defense industry and strategic technology agenda.
According to specifications presented at the exhibition, the Yildirimhan is an ICBM with hypersonic flight capabilities. The missile can reportedly reach speeds ranging from Mach 9 to Mach 25 and has an estimated range of around 6,000 kilometers (about 3,728 miles).
With that range, it could strike targets at considerable distances, placing it among the most ambitious missile platforms Turkey has developed to date.
Millî Savunma Bakanı Yaşar Güler, SAHA 2026 Fuarı’nda Bakanlığımız AR-GE Merkezi tarafından üretilen yeni teknolojileri kamuoyuna açıkladı.
Davetlilerin yoğun ilgi gösterdiği tanıtım töreninde;
Ülkemizin ilk sıvı roket yakıtlı, hipersonik hızda seyir yapabilen ve en uzun… pic.twitter.com/COA569HTWv
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) May 5, 2026
The system reportedly uses nitrogen tetroxide liquid fuel and relies on four rocket engines. These features make the Yildirimhan one of the most advanced missile systems associated with Turkey’s domestic defense industry.
Its developers claim that the missile’s combination of extreme speed and maneuverability could help it evade existing air defense and missile defense systems, reducing the window for detection and interception.
The Yildirimhan missile can reportedly carry a payload of up to 3,000 kilograms (about 6,614 pounds) of explosives, a capability that could make it a significant force multiplier in modern warfare.
