Turkey's SIPER, Competitor to PATRIOT, S-400 Commences Acceptance Trials

Turkey's SIPER long-range air defense missile system has initiated acceptance tests, marking an important step toward its entry into the national inventory.

Developed with indigenous resources, SIPER competes with the American Patriot and the Russian S-400 air defense systems.

The first firing of SIPER Product 2 Missile, boasting a range of 150+ kilometers, took place in August 2023, following the earlier launch of the Product 1 missile with a 100+ kilometer range. The Turkish Defense Industries Secretariat (SSB) had confirmed the tests.

SIPER, designed in response to the U.S. denial of the Patriot system sale to Turkey, is set to join the Turkish Armed Forces inventory this year with the deployment of the SIPER Product 1 Missile. Serving as an interim solution, Turkey had acquired the Russian S-400 system before developing its SIPER system.

Comparable to the American Patriot, SIPER has the capability to track and engage various air threats, including missiles, fighter jets, and helicopters.

The SIPER project, established under the Long-Range Regional Air and Missile Defense System Project Phase-C, was contracted in January 2018 between the Presidency of Turkish Defense Industries (SSB) and the ASELSAN-ROKETSAN-TUBITAK SAGE Partnership.