Türkiye has conducted new test launches of its SİPER Block-2 surface-to-air missile, designed for the country’s long-range air and missile defense system.

The latest tests assessed the missile’s ability to switch targets while in flight, according to defense news outlet SavunmaSanayiST.com.

The tests used targets flying at altitudes close to sea level. Engineers also evaluated the missile’s guidance systems during both the midcourse and terminal phases of its flight.

During the trials, the SİPER Block-2 missile successfully intercepted a maneuvering target at a range of more than 150 kilometers, marking another step toward its entry into service.

The ability to redirect a missile after launch could give Turkish air defense units greater operational flexibility. If a higher-priority threat emerges, an already-launched missile can be assigned a new target without requiring another launch, helping military units use their missile stocks more efficiently.

Targets flying close to sea level are particularly challenging for radar systems to detect and track. Anti-ship cruise missiles often fly at such low altitudes to reduce the likelihood of detection.

During the midcourse phase, SİPER receives guidance updates from a fire-control radar to help it approach its target. In the terminal phase, the missile activates its onboard radar seeker for precision guidance.

The first tests of the Block-2 missile took place in August 2023 in Sinop, northern Türkiye.

The SİPER system was developed by Turkish defense companies ASELSAN, ROKETSAN and TÜBİTAK SAGE under the coordination of Türkiye’s Presidency of Defense Industries.

It forms part of the long-range layer of ÇELİKKUBBE, or “Steel Dome,” Türkiye’s multilayered national air defense architecture.

The SİPER Block-2 missile has an interception range exceeding 150 kilometers and an interception altitude of more than 30 kilometers.

The earlier Block-1 version entered service in October 2024 and achieved full operational readiness in June 2026.