JAKARTA – Turkey earlier this month launched its first domestically produced intercontinental ballistic missile, named Yildirimhan or in Indonesian “Lightning”.
Launched on May 5, this ballistic missile is claimed to have a range of up to 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles) and a speed of Mach 9 to Mach 25, Daily Sabah reported from Anadolu (15/5).
The missile, developed by the National Defense Ministry’s Research and Development Center, made its debut at the SAHA 2026 defense and aerospace exhibition, which began on the same day.
This marked the public introduction of one of the country’s most advanced long-range missile systems, in which Yildirimhan used liquid nitrogen tetroxide as fuel and was powered by four rocket propulsion engines.
Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler announced the new technologies produced by our Ministry’s R&D Center at the SAHA 2026 Fair.
At the introduction ceremony, which was attended by Davetlilerin,
✅ The first liquid rocket fuel of our country, which can travel at hypersonic speed and is the longest… pic.twitter.com/COA569HTWv
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) May 5, 2026
Speaking at the exhibition, Defense Minister Yasar Guler said the country’s “precision guided munitions, developed according to NATO standards,” enhance the army’s military capabilities, with the low cost advantage it offers compared to foreign counterparts, quoted from The National.
“In an era where economic costs have become an asymmetric weapon, Turkey offers its allies not only weapons systems but also sustainable security technology and economics,” he said.
This launch was carried out in line with the continued development of the Turkish defense industry’s capabilities, including in unmanned systems, missile technology, air defense, aviation, and space-related platforms.
SAHA 2026, organized by SAHA Istanbul, brings together defense and aerospace companies, procurement officials, military delegations, and industry representatives from Turkey and abroad.
Turkey is known to have launched various missile systems, including the Tayfun Block-4 hypersonic missile, which was launched last year.
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