Foreign News Service
Türkiye introduced many new weapons, ammunition, and defense industry products to the world at the Saha 2026 exhibition, which began on May 5th. The exhibition attracted significant interest from around the world. In total... over 1,700 companies participated, 263 of them international, the rest Approximately 1,437 of them were Turkish companies.
At the fair, Yıldırımhan, a product of the Turkish Ministry of National Defence's R&D department, made history as Türkiye's first intercontinental missile. It was first introduced at the SAHA 2026 fair, which began on May 5th.
With this system Türkiye, Turkey has become one of the few countries that produce long-range ballistic missiles.
Technical specifications of the YILDIRIMHAN missile.
The missile has a range of 6,000 kilometers and a speed between Mach 9 and Mach 25. This value is approximately... At a speed of 31,000 kilometers per hour, It could be a nightmare for defense systems.
Mach 25 (Hypersonic)
That's 25 times the speed of sound, a level that would severely challenge modern defense systems.
Using liquid nitrogen tetroxide fuel Yıldırımhan The missile is powered by four rocket engines. Its high maneuverability gives it an advantage in reaching its target, while limiting early warning and interception capabilities. Capable of carrying a warhead of nearly 3 tons, this system already holds a significant place in modern warfare doctrines. force multiplier It is seen as such.
Countries in the world that possess intercontinental ballistic missiles
With Turkey's inclusion, the number of countries in the world that produce intercontinental ballistic missiles has risen to eight. These countries are the USA, China, Russia, the UK, France, North Korea, India, and most recently, Turkey. So, what are the basic technical specifications of systems that are equivalent to YILDIRIMHAN?
| COUNTRY | MISSILE NAME | RANGE |
|---|---|---|
| RUSSIA | SARMAT | 18,000 KILOMETERS |
| USA | LGM-30G | 13,000 KILOMETERS |
| CHINESE | DF-41 | 15,000 KILOMETERS |
| FRANCE | M51 | 10,000 KM (Submarine only) |
| ENGLAND | Trident II D5 | 12,000 KM (Submarine only) |
| INDIA | AGNI-V | 5,500-8,000 KILOMETERS |
| NORTH KOREA | HWASONG-15 | 10-13 THOUSAND KILOMETERS |
How did world public opinion view YILDIRIMHAN?
The Yıldırımhan hypersonic missile system developed by Türkiye, world public opinion It was met with great interest.
From the Greek press Greek City Times, The news report stated, "Türkiye unveiled its Yıldırımhan hypersonic missile. It is claimed that the long-range ballistic system could reach Athens and Israel within minutes.".
Based in Qatar Al Jazeera The article drew attention to Yıldırımhan. It stated, "Turkey introduced an intercontinental ballistic missile prototype in line with its goal of achieving self-sufficiency in the defense industry and becoming a significant defense actor between the Middle East and NATO allies.".
The Yıldırımhan missile received extensive coverage in the British, Russian, Malaysian, and United Arab Emirates press. International news outlets stated, "NATO member Turkey has enhanced its reputation as a significant military supplier. With its new missile system boasting a range of 6,000 kilometers, Turkey has the capacity to reach large parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.".
Statement from the Ministry of National Defense regarding YILDIRIMHAN.
Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk, Press and Public Relations Advisor and Spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defence, explained the details at the weekly press briefing held in the Meeting Hall of the Istanbul Exhibition Center on the occasion of the SAHA 2026 International Defence, Aviation and Space Industry Fair.
“At SAHA-2026, where the level reached by the domestic and national defense industry and its future vision were presented to the whole world, the products and projects of the Ministry of National Defense and its affiliated organizations were showcased. Within this scope, numerous distinguished products from our R&D Center are on display, including the Gölgehan jammer, which has a wide range of impact and band-closing capabilities; the Yıldırımhan long-range missile, the first liquid-fueled missile capable of hypersonic speed and having the longest range; the Güçhan turbo-fan aircraft engine and the Onur turboshaft helicopter engine, all critical parts of which are produced by our R&D; and the PNR-53 sniper rifle, which boasts the distinction of being the world's lightest weapon in its caliber and has a maximum firing range of 2,100 meters.’
