News : Turkiye has unveiled a prototype of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) named Yildirimhan Missile as part of a push to become self-reliant and to gain a foothold as a key defence player in the Middle East and among its NATO allies.
Yildirimhan Missile :
It is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by Turkey.
It has a range of 6,000 km.
If launched from Turkey, the Yildirimhan will be able to hit targets across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
The missile can travel at up to Mach 25, an extreme hypersonic speed equivalent to 25 times the speed of sound, or nearly eight kilometres per second.
It has four rocket propulsion engines and is fuelled by liquid nitrogen tetroxide.
While liquid fuel introduces some “operational trade-offs” in terms of launch readiness, it enables greater optimisation of range and payload.
The missile is reported to be capable of carrying a warhead, or multiple warheads, with a total weight of up to three tonnes.
It is expected to be launched from a mobile wheeled launcher.
Source: ALJ
