Turkey publicly introduced its first-ever hypersonic ballistic missile, the Tayfun Block‑4, during the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) in Istanbul this week, marking a major milestone in the country’s fast‑growing defense sector.
The missile was presented by leading Turkish arms manufacturer Roketsan on July 22. Company officials said the new weapon is capable of reaching speeds above Mach 5, qualifying it as hypersonic, and will enter service with the Turkish Armed Forces by the end of 2025.
Key Specs and Capabilities
According to Roketsan and open‑source defense reports:
- Speed: Mach 5+
- Range: Around 800 km, with potential upgrades extending beyond 1,000 km
- Size: Approximately 6.5 m in length and weighing ≈2.3 tons; some versions may weigh up to 7 tons
- Accuracy: Claimed ≤ 5 meters using GPS‑aided inertial guidance
- Targets: Air defense systems, command posts, hangars, and critical infrastructure
The company stressed the system will remain off the export market for now, calling it a strategic national asset.
Regional and Global Context
By unveiling Tayfun Block‑4, Turkey becomes only the second NATO member—after the United States—to field a hypersonic weapon. Globally, only a handful of countries, including Russia and China, have indigenous hypersonic missile programs.
Defense analysts say the introduction of Block‑4 could shift the military balance in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Turkey has historically competed for influence with Greece and Israel.
More Than Just One Missile
The Block‑4 was part of a broader Roketsan showcase. At IDEF 2025, the company also displayed:
- Akata, a submarine‑launched anti‑ship missile
- Gökbora, a long‑range air‑to‑air missile
- Eren, a loitering munition
- 300 ER, an air‑launched ballistic missile
- Şimşek‑2, a satellite launch vehicle
The six‑system unveiling underscores Turkey’s ambition to expand its domestic missile portfolio across multiple platforms.
Why It Matters for the U.S. and NATO
For Washington, the missile’s debut is significant:
- It means a NATO ally now has its own hypersonic strike system, a technology the Pentagon is racing to field.
- The missile’s speed and maneuverability pose a challenge for conventional air‑defense systems, including Patriot PAC‑3 and Europe’s SAMP/T.
- It may force NATO planning adjustments and spur additional dialogue on regional missile defense coordination.
What’s Next
Roketsan confirmed Block‑4 will begin integration with Turkish forces by late 2025. There is no export roadmap, and Turkish officials have provided no details about potential production numbers.
