Ankara: Trkiye has signed a contract worth $6.5 billion to strengthen its integrated air defense architecture known as the Steel Dome, officials said. The work covered by the agreements coordinated by the Defense Industries Presidency (SSB) carries an estimated value of $6.5 billion.

According to Anadolu Agency, at the signing ceremony, SSB head Haluk Gorgun said decisions adopted at the most recent board meeting focused on procuring new offensive and air defense systems. He noted that Roketsan and Aselsan had signed new contracts covering both upgraded versions of existing systems and additional offensive systems.

Gorgun stated that Roketsan and ASELSAN, in addition to the air defense, close-range, and long-range air defense systems they have previously produced, developed, and previously added to the inventory, have now signed contracts for Roketsan's newly added offensive systems and their advanced versions.

He further emphasized that Trkiye had become a global actor in the defense sector and is now among the top 10 countries exporting defense industry products. While covering its own air defense needs, Trkiye had also become capable of exporting systems across multiple categories, he added.

Gorgun highlighted the strategic role of the Steel Dome concept in Trkiye's layered air defense doctrine and emphasized the domestic nature of the architecture. He mentioned the efforts to produce all the elements of the layered air defense systems architecture, starting with the Steel Dome structure, both the subsystems and their integrated networking, as well as the software and hardware.

He concluded by noting the signing of the serial production of offensive systems that will enhance Trkiye's deterrence.