Turkey touts propellant breakthrough for Yıldırımhan long-range ballistic missile
Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense announced a breakthrough in developing liquid-fueled propellants for the Yıldırımhan long-range ballistic missile, capable of hypersonic speeds and a 6,000 km range. The technology, domestically produced for the first time, marks a major advancement in Turkey’s defense industry and strategic deterrence capabilities.
Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) revealed advancements in the Yıldırımhan long-range ballistic missile at the SAHA Expo 2026 defense exhibition in Istanbul this week. Defense Minister Yaşar Güler highlighted the missile as Turkey’s first liquid-fueled rocket system, capable of hypersonic flight and a 6,000 km range with a 3-ton warhead. The Yıldırımhan uses unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine as fuel and dinitrogen tetroxide as oxidizer, propellants previously unavailable domestically. The MND’s R&D Center Director-General, Nilüfer Kuzulu, noted the transition from lab-scale production to serial manufacturing, overcoming significant technical challenges. Development began a decade ago, with initial lab work scaling up to full production capacity. The missile has completed laboratory testing and is set for field trials soon, aligning with Turkey’s National Technology Initiative to bolster indigenous defense systems. The MND emphasized the project’s role in enhancing Turkey’s strategic deterrence, marking a milestone in domestic defense innovation.
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