Türkiye publicly unveiled its Yildirimhan intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time on Tuesday at the SAHA 2026 defence exhibition in Istanbul, highlighting a major leap in its long-range strike capabilities.
Developed by the National Defence Ministry’s R&D Center, the missile is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 25 and has a reported range of 6,000 kilometres (3,728 miles).
The Yildirimhan system uses liquid nitrogen tetroxide as fuel and is powered by four rocket engines, placing it among the most advanced missile platforms developed by Türkiye to date.
The unveiling took place at the SAHA 2026 International Defence and Aerospace Exhibition, where leading Turkish defence firms and public institutions are presenting new technologies across multiple domains.
Push for advanced defence technologies
The debut of Yildirimhan comes as Türkiye continues to expand its defence industry, investing heavily in missile systems, unmanned platforms, air defence, aviation, and space technologies.
SAHA 2026, organised by SAHA Istanbul, has grown into one of the defence industry events in the region, bringing together global defence companies, military delegations, and procurement officials.
The exhibition underscores Ankara’s ambition to strengthen its domestic capabilities while boosting exports and technological independence in critical defence sectors.
