Turkey Unveils 'Yıldırımhan' ICBM with Claimed 6,000 km Range

Turkey's Defence Ministry research centre unveiled a new intercontinental ballistic missile, 'Yıldırımhan,' at the SAHA 2026 Defence and Aerospace Exhibition, claiming it can carry a 3,000 kg warhead over 6,000 km at speeds up to Mach 25. The announcement positions Turkey as seeking advanced missile capabilities, though no operational prototype has yet been built or tested, officials confirmed.

An AI-generated video presented during the launch appeared to depict the missile striking targets in the United States, drawing immediate criticism given the US is a NATO ally. The Defence Ministry later clarified the video was illustrative and not based on actual capabilities, while noting the missile's range would be insufficient to reach the continental US. Defence Minister Yasar Guler stated the system is intended solely for deterrence.

Western defence analysts have expressed strong skepticism about the technical feasibility of the missile's claimed performance. A senior Western defence official told the Financial Times the claims were an overestimation, while Fabian Hoffman, a missile expert at the University of Oslo, described the project as 'very ambitious and questionable.' Turkey's current longest-range missile, the Tayfun, has a range of approximately 600 km.

The Defence Ministry said laboratory testing of the Yıldırımhan system has been completed and field testing is underway. Turkey, currently the world's 11th-largest arms exporter, continues to expand its domestic defence industry with support from key NATO partners, including Germany and the UK.

The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.