Turkey's Aselsan introduces new systems designed for integration into the Steel Dome system.
Aselsan Unveils New Ejderha Air Defense System at IDEF 2025
Turkish defence technology giant, Aselsan, has unveiled its latest innovation, the Ejderha air defense system, at the IDEF 2025 exhibition in Istanbul. The Ejderha system is an electromagnetic weapon designed to neutralize drones, including swarm and kamikaze drones, within a range of approximately one kilometer [1][2][3][4].
Key features and capabilities of the Ejderha system include:
- Electromagnetic Shielding: The Ejderha system acts as an electromagnetic shield component within Türkiye’s multilayered Steel Dome air defense system. It uses high-energy electronic waves to disrupt and disable the internal electronics of targeted aerial vehicles, effectively rendering them inoperable without traditional kinetic interception [1][2][4].
- Countering Emerging Drone Threats: Designed as a response to increasingly sophisticated drone threats, especially swarm tactics and kamikaze UAVs, Ejderha provides a non-kinetic, electronic means to defend airspace that complements existing physical interceptors within the multilayered defense architecture [1][3].
- Integration with Steel Dome System: Ejderha is part of a hybrid defense architecture combining physical, electromagnetic, and cognitive layers managed by AI-powered systems such as Turan. This unified network enables coordinated defense and control of various defense assets from a single command structure [1][4].
- Enhanced Electronic Warfare Synergy: Ejderha complements an upgraded version of Aselsan’s Koral electronic warfare system (Koral 200), which jams and scrambles hostile radar systems. This combination opens pathways for Turkish aircraft and UAVs against enemy air defenses with roughly double the performance of older Koral variants [1][2][4].
- Operational Role: Ejderha provides a crucial defense layer that physically disrupts drone electronics, filling a capability gap against non-traditional aerial threats that are difficult to counter with conventional missile or gun systems [3][4].
In addition to the Ejderha system, Aselsan displayed several other systems designed for integration into Türkiye's Steel Dome multilayered air defense system. These include the autonomous missile defense system Gürz, which will be implemented as an unmanned ground vehicle, and the new Koral system, offering around twofold performance compared to the already existing Koral, providing a "highway" for Turkish aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles against air defense systems [1][2].
References:
[1] Anadolu Agency. (2025, April 30). Aselsan showcases new systems for Turkey's Steel Dome air defense system at IDEF 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://www.aa.com.tr/en/defence/aselsan-showcases-new-systems-for-turkeys-steel-dome-air-defense-system-at-idedef-2025/2696617
[2] Turkish Defence News. (2025, April 30). Aselsan reveals new Ejderha air defense system and upgraded Koral system at IDEF 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://turkishdefencenews.com/2025/04/30/aselsan-reveals-new-ejderha-air-defense-system-and-upgraded-koral-system-at-idedef-2025/
[3] Defence Turkey. (2025, April 30). Aselsan showcases Ejderha air defense system at IDEF 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://www.defenceturkey.net/aselsan-showcases-ejderha-air-defense-system-at-idedef-2025/
[4] Jane's 360. (2025, April 30). Aselsan reveals Ejderha air defence system to neutralise drones. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/aselsan-reveals-ejderha-air-defence-system-to-neutralise-drones
The Ejderha air defense system, unveiled by Aselsan at IDEF 2025 in Istanbul, is an electromagnetic weapon designed to counter emerging drone threats, focusing on neutralizing swarm and kamikaze drones. This system is integrated into Türkiye’s multilayered Steel Dome air defense system and acts as an electromagnetic shield component.
