Meteksan Secures İHARAD Radar Contract

Our Bureau - : May 7, 2026 - : 5:47 pm

The Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) of Türkiye has signed a procurement agreement with Meteksan Defence for the mass production of the İnsan Hakları İzleme ve Araştırma Radarı (İHARAD), a specialized radar system designed to detect and track low-altitude drone threats. The signing ceremony took place during the second day of SAHA EXPO 2026.

The agreement marks a critical advancement in Türkiye’s multi-layered defense architecture, specifically targeting the rising global challenge of micro and mini-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The İHARAD system utilizes advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Moving Target Indicator (MTI) technologies to provide high-resolution imaging and classification of aerial targets. The radar features a 360-degree azimuth coverage and a high-elevation antenna beam, allowing for the simultaneous detection of fast-moving maneuvering targets and low-speed ground objects. This capability is vital for protecting critical infrastructure, such as airports and power plants, against asymmetric aerial surveillance and kamikaze drone attacks.

Strategic Industrial Advancement

The development of İHARAD represents a significant shift for the Turkish defence industry as it moves toward higher-frequency, indigenous sensor solutions. Haluk Görgün, President of the SSB, emphasized the strategic importance of domestic production during the ceremony. “During this fair, we expect contracts worth around US$8 billion to be signed,” Görgün stated, noting that the country now fulfills the vast majority of its defense requirements through its own industrial ecosystem. He further highlighted that Turkish defense exports reached a milestone of US$10.5 billion in the previous fiscal year.

Meteksan Defence General Manager Adil Baktır underscored the company’s commitment to providing combat-proven technology to both domestic and international markets. “SAHA 2026 is an important platform for showcasing our advanced technologies and combat proven systems,” Baktır said. He noted that the İHARAD project would further strengthen the company’s portfolio of "innovative sensor technology and signal processing algorithms," reinforcing Meteksan's role as a leading provider of perimeter security and electronic warfare solutions.

Regional Maritime Implications

For the Asia-Pacific region, the expansion of Turkish radar technology like İHARAD offers an alternative to Western and Chinese ISR systems. Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia and Indonesia, have increasingly sought Turkish defense solutions that offer high performance without the restrictive export conditions often associated with other global powers. The availability of indigenous Turkish sensors provides these nations with greater strategic autonomy and a more resilient supply chain.

The İHARAD system is particularly suited for maritime domain awareness and border security in the South China Sea and the Malacca Strait, where persistent humidity and cloud cover often limit the effectiveness of traditional optical sensors. By offering a robust radar-based detection suite that is not subject to major power political alignments, Meteksan positions itself as a key strategic partner for regional militaries seeking to upgrade their coastal monitoring capabilities against increasingly sophisticated drone threats.

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