Turkey Unveils Model of 6,000 km Range Yildirimhan ICBM

Turkey publicly displayed a full-size model of an intercontinental ballistic missile designated Yildirimhan at the SAHA 2026 International Defense, Aerospace, and Space Industry Fair in Istanbul. The model was shown on May 5, 2026, and presented by Turkish Minister of Defense Yasar Guler. The defense ministry stated the project has been under development for around a decade.

The Yildirimhan is a conventionally armed, road-mobile missile with a planned range of 6,000 kilometers, placing it in the ICBM category which begins at 5,500 kilometers. It features a single stage powered by four rocket engines using a liquid propellant combination of nitrogen tetroxide and hydrazine. The missile is designed to carry a warhead weighing 3,000 kilograms.

Because the Yildirimhan is liquid-fueled, it would require fueling before launch. This would result in longer preparation times compared with solid-fuel systems and increase vulnerability to preemptive strikes. The Turkish Ministry of Defense released an animation showing the missile in a mobile configuration.

“As Turkey, we are located in a geography of high strategic importance, located in the heart of three continents, where global arm wrestling is never lacking … the first condition for survival in such a geography is deterrence.”

Turkey has progressively extended the range of its ballistic missile systems in recent years. In 2025 it unveiled the Tayfun Block IV, considered likely to reach around 1,000 kilometers. A test firing of that system took place in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The manufacturer Roketsan described the Tayfun Block IV as capable of striking air defense systems, command centers, military hangars and other critical facilities. The country is also developing a medium-range ballistic missile known as Cenk with a planned range of 2,000 kilometers.

Turkish officials have previously indicated interest in systems exceeding that distance. Among NATO members in Europe, Turkey is the only one that currently operates a ground-launched conventional ballistic missile with a range greater than 300 kilometers.

Development of an ICBM presents technical challenges for Turkey. The country's primary missile test range on the Black Sea spans less than 1,000 kilometers, requiring steep parabolic trajectories for longer-range tests. Officials have discussed building a spaceport in conjunction with Somalia that could allow launches over the Indian Ocean.

The Yildirimhan and Cenk designs would also operate largely in the exo-atmospheric regime and could incorporate multiple warheads or countermeasures. Turkey's defense industry has expanded significantly over the past 25 years, producing both ballistic and cruise missiles now in service with its armed forces.

Some of these systems have been exported without the restrictions imposed by U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Turkish media reports indicate that production of fuel for the Yildirimhan and development of its warheads are already underway, though no timeline for possible service entry has been released.