Turkey unveils Yıldırımhan long-range ballistic missile with domestic propellant breakthrough
Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler announced on Thursday at the SAHA Expo 2026 that the Yıldırımhan long-range ballistic missile, Turkey's first liquid-fueled rocket system, can carry a 3-ton warhead to a range of 6,000 kilometers. The missile uses domestically produced unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine fuel and dinitrogen tetroxide oxidizer, developed at the MND R&D Center. Nilüfer Kuzulu, director-general of the center, said the propellant technology has moved from laboratory-scale production to serial production.
Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler announced on Thursday at the SAHA Expo 2026 defense exhibition in Istanbul that the Yıldırımhan long-range ballistic missile, Turkey's first liquid-fueled rocket system, can carry a 3-ton warhead to a range of 6,000 kilometers. "We have elevated our work to a more advanced level through the technology base we established two years ago within our Ministry of National Defense R&D Center," Güler said during a press conference. "Our Yıldırımhan Long-Range Missile represents a significant technological milestone as Turkey’s first liquid-fueled rocket missile system, capable of hypersonic-speed flight and possessing the country’s longest range."
The missile uses unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine as fuel and dinitrogen tetroxide as the oxidizer, both produced domestically at the Turkish Ministry of National Defence’s R&D Center. Nilüfer Kuzulu, director-general of the center, told Turkish broadcaster NTV Türkiye that the propellant technology had not previously been manufactured in Turkey. "Developing this fuel is extremely difficult, and it was not something previously manufactured in Turkey," Kuzulu said. She said the development began as small-scale laboratory work years ago and has now transitioned to serial production with a dedicated facility. "What began as small-scale laboratory work years ago has now been transformed into serial production. We now have both the production capability and the associated production facility."
Ministry of National Defense (MND) sources said the Yıldırımhan missile system has completed laboratory testing and will enter field or ground testing in the coming period, with work continuing according to the planned schedule. The ministry stated it will continue to support indigenous defense industry development. "As part of the National Technology Initiative, our Ministry will continue with determination to support the development of our defense industry, develop indigenous and national systems, and enhance Türkiye’s strategic deterrence capability," the ministry stated.