Turkey advances air defense with ASELSAN radar debut and Patriot/SAMP‑T system talks

Turkish defence electronics firm ASELSAN presented the ALP 110‑G multifunction AESA radar, a mobile system capable of acting as a primary command‑and‑control search radar or a tactical gap‑filler. Mounted on an 8×8 wheeled vehicle, it can be air‑lifted by an A400M, reaches over 100 nautical miles, tracks more than 1,000 targets, integrates Mode‑5/Mode‑S IFF, and includes a weapon‑locating mode for ballistic threats.

At the same time, Turkey’s Ministry of Defence said it is evaluating the purchase of either the US‑made Patriot or the European SAMP/T surface‑to‑air missile system to close gaps in its long‑range missile shield. Defence Minister Yasar Guler confirmed technical and political discussions are under way, while domestic projects such as the Steel Dome and the Siper long‑range system (up to 150 km range) continue to be developed to reduce reliance on NATO assets.