Turkey strengthens Saudi air defense system

The French intelligence magazine Intelligence Online reported that the Turkish company Aselsan is developing an air defense (AHD) system for Saudi Arabia's massive NEOM project, which is being implemented as part of the "Vision 2030" strategy.

The decision means rejecting proposals from European missile manufacturer MBDA and choosing instead a more acceptable system proposed by Turkey, the report said.

The Saudi Arabia-led missile defense project is based on Turkey's Steel Dome system, which was officially launched in August 2024.

This system is designed as a multi-layered defense system, unlike Israel's Iron Dome. While the Israeli system is designed to eliminate medium-range threats, Turkey's Steel Dome is more comprehensive and incorporates advanced technologies.