The S-400 enigma in the 'Steel Dome'

It is noteworthy that the S-400s purchased from Russia are not even mentioned in the 'Steel Dome', the air defense system announced to be established in Turkey.

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The Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran-Israel tension have increased the importance of air defense. Turkey has also made a significant move following the rise in the risk of regional conflict. The Defense Industry Executive Committee decided to implement the 'Steel Dome Project'. Domestic Korkut, Hisar-A+ and O+, Gökdemir, Göker, Gökberg, and Siper systems will be integrated into the project. When the planned goal is reached, the "Steel Dome," which will house many air defense weapon systems, radars, electro-optical systems, communication modules, command and control stations, and artificial intelligence, will be the brain of Turkey's air defense field. The project was announced as good news in large print, especially in media outlets close to the government, but the project also brings some critical questions with it.

Yesterday, experienced Ankara journalist Murat Yetkin asked, "So what will happen to the S-400s?" and reminded that the S-400s purchased from Russia led to the deterioration of Turkey-US relations and caused Turkey to be removed from the F-35 program. As will be remembered, regarding the F-35 crisis, President Erdoğan had said, "They are not giving us F-35s. They are reacting to the defense systems we bought, and they are imposing embargoes that reach absurd levels. Frankly, we don't care about any of them."

Today, Karar newspaper expanded this question and carried it to its front page.

WAS ALL THIS CRISIS AND COST FOR NOTHING?

The newspaper, which stated that "It is noteworthy that the Russian S-400 systems, which have a direct and indirect cost of more than 10 billion dollars, are not included in the Steel Dome," included the following comments:

The exclusion of the Russian system from the Steel Dome has caused criticism in public opinion. It was pointed out that the S-400s, which were purchased by saying 'they will eliminate our deficiency in this regard,' caused Turkey to be removed from the 5th generation fighter jet F-35 program and to be subjected to US CAATSA sanctions. Expressing that billions of dollars worth of weapons are being left to rot in warehouses, the reaction was voiced: 'If they are not going to be used in air defense, was all this trouble experienced for nothing?' The question was asked, "If they are not going to be used in Turkey's first air defense project, the Steel Dome, what will we do with the S-400s?"

According to experts, if Turkey does not use the S-400s, which cost 2.5 billion dollars, and cannot return to the F-35 program, from which it expected 9 billion dollars in revenue, the loss will reach approximately 12 billion dollars.

HOW THE DOME WORKS

Development activities for the national air defense system are ongoing. It is possible to think of the system as a security umbrella like Israel's 'Iron Dome'. The main goal is to be able to counter threats in a spectrum starting from very low altitude up to the highest. According to the report by TRT Haber; first, the target will be detected. Then identification and evaluation will follow. After the decision is made, the target will be destroyed. The faster and more coordinated this equation works, the safer the region you want to protect will be. Aselsan is undertaking the lion's share of the work for the Steel Dome. It is not clear exactly when the system will be completed. However, SİPER, the first long-range air defense system developed by Turkey with domestic resources, is expected to enter the inventory this year. In the first phase, the 100-kilometer range SİPER Product-1 will be deployed. Over time, SİPER-2 and SİPER-3 will be implemented. The developed systems will be integrated into radar networks at many different points.

News Source: 12punto