Turkish air defense system, Siper, successfully hits target at 62 miles

ANKARA 

A long-range Turkish indigenous air defense missile, Siper, was successfully test-fired and it hit the target with a range of more than 100 kilometers (62 miles), a top defense official said Friday. 

"A New Year's gift to our nation as we enter the Turkish Century from our defense industry," tweeted Ismail Demir, the head of Türkiye's Defense Industries Presidency.

The Siper project is led by Türkiye's defense giants Aselsan and Roketsan, as well as the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK).

Besides Siper, which is expected to rival Russia's S-400, Türkiye has also developed the Korkut, Sungur and Hisar air defense systems.