Professor Tim Wilson from St Andrews University assessed Türkiye's "Steel Dome" air defense project from a perspective that will resonate globally. Comparing Türkiye's national air defense project to Israel's "Iron Dome" and Trump's "Golden Dome" promise, Wilson stated, "Steel Dome is not just a battery or missile; it is a massive architecture where sensors, data, and manufacturing are integrated.".
Türkiye's layered air defense system, "Iron Dome," continues to be under scrutiny by Western military experts and academics. Professor Tim Wilson, Director of the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at St. Andrews University, examined Türkiye's air defense strategy in his latest video analysis. Wilson emphasized that Iron Dome is not merely military equipment, but a "strategic doctrine" that redefines Türkiye's geopolitical destiny and its role within NATO.
Here's a comparison of the "Three Domes" and Türkiye's changing role, as seen through the eyes of a British academic.
The Critical Difference Between the Three Domes: Iron, Gold, and Steel
Professor Wilson began his analysis by technically and conceptually dissecting three different "Dome" concepts that are currently in the global spotlight.
Israel's Iron Dome
Wilson stated that the system is often misunderstood, saying, “The Iron Dome is a tactical shield for a small state under frequent rocket fire. It is designed against short-range rockets. It is never a 'national umbrella,' it is simply a selective system protecting densely populated areas.‘.
Trump's Golden Dome
Wilson stated that the project promised by Donald Trump was more of a "rhetorical and architectural" project than a technical one, implying that it was merely a political statement.
Türkiye's Steel Dome
Wilson emphasized that the biggest feature distinguishing the Turkish project from others is its "scope." "The Steel Dome is not a building, it's architecture," said the professor, noting that the project is a massive, network-centric structure that combines radar, electronic warfare, and multiple interceptor layers into a single command system.
“"Geography is Destiny": Türkiye's Necessary Choice
The analysis emphasized that Türkiye's geographical location made this project a "necessity" rather than a "choice." Reminding that Türkiye sits at the intersection of the Black Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Caucasus, and the Middle East (Volta), Wilson stated, "Ankara cannot base its national defense posture on a single short-range battery concept. Turkey had to establish a 'Network-Centric' defense against long-range, limited, and multiple threats coming from multiple directions, and Steel Dome is precisely that.".
The "Painful but Necessary" Lesson Learned from the S-400 and Embargoes
Professor Wilson stated that the S-400 crisis and the export restrictions (covert embargoes) imposed by Western allies on Türkiye over the past 10 years have taught Ankara a "sharp lesson." Wilson summarized this lesson with the following words:
“If you want freedom of movement, you must have your own sensors, your own data links, integration capabilities, and production capacity. Steel Dome is the embodiment of this lesson that America taught us. Turkey learned the cost of dependence and is now showing the world that real power lies not in a single missile, but in an integrated command layer and data fusion.”
ASELSAN and the "Logistics" War
Wilson, stating that air defense is not only a battle of technological intelligence but also a "logistics and production" war, made a special mention of ASELSAN's role. Calling air defense a "replenishment race," Wilson emphasized the vital importance of ASELSAN's investment programs and declared capacity increases. Because being able to produce ammunition on a "scalable" basis in your own factories, rather than waiting for it from abroad in a conflict, is the key to victory.
Türkiye is not transforming into Europe, it is becoming "indispensable" for Europe.
The most striking part of the analysis was about Türkiye's new role in NATO and European security. Wilson stated that at a time when the US cannot be everywhere or its commitments are being questioned, Türkiye's self-sufficient (autonomous) air defense network is an "insurance" for NATO, concluding his remarks as follows:
“There may seem to be an irony, but a country often described as ‘not European’ can be the one guaranteeing air defense resilience, the most critical area of European security. Türkiye’s Steel Dome trajectory is invaluable because it offers a non-US-centric capability hub within NATO. This doesn’t mean Türkiye is European; it means Türkiye has become ‘indispensable’ to Europe.”
