In 21st century wars, asymmetric and hybrid threats are becoming more prominent than traditional threats, and conventional defense systems are insufficient to combat these threats. United States (US) President Donald Trump’s demand that North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partners cover their own defense costs, the ongoing war in Ukraine, rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific, the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, and Israel’s airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure show that the norms-based order established after the Second World War has begun to be shaken and air defense has become a means for states to achieve strategic superiority.
Indeed, Ukraine’s use of low-cost means such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and drones against Russia has clearly been highly effective. Again, Ukraine’s attacks on symbolic targets such as Moscow and Russia’s logistics lines with airplanes and kamikaze drones[1] reveal that countries that cannot achieve military superiority conventionally can create deterrence with multi-layered and artificial intelligence-supported systems. In other words, although Russia has advanced systems such as the S-300 and S-400, Ukraine’s low-altitude small drone attack shows that the new generation wars are not only on the front line, but also in the cities by targeting economic and psychological areas such as energy infrastructure, oil facilities, public buildings.
From this perspective, it is understood that air defense is not only focused on intercepting conventional missiles, but also on combating asymmetric threats that cause high damage at low cost. Indeed, in order to eliminate threats and increase deterrence in wartime and peacetime, states have identified the development of hypersonic missile, UAV and Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technologies, as well as the use of long-range radars, medium-range interceptors, short-range mobile defenses, electronic warfare and artificial intelligence-supported radar systems as a priority security policy. Likewise, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte clearly emphasized the importance of air defense[2] by stating that countries should increase their air and missile defense systems by 400% to counter the threat from Russia.
Therefore, European countries have launched the “European Sky Shield Initiative” to strengthen collective defense. With this project, European countries aim to ensure European security against Russia’s hypersonic threats. [3]
Strengthening air defense has also become a defense priority for Middle Eastern countries. Israel is strengthening its defenses, especially against attacks from Iran, with its Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow systems.[4] Iran, on the other hand, is improving its defense and offensive capabilities with locally produced systems such as Bavar 373.[5] Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is using the Patriot Air Defense System from the United States to combat Houthi attacks from Yemen.[6]
In the Asia-Pacific, China stands out as an actor aiming for autonomy in air defense[7] not only regionally but also globally by taking measures against ballistic missiles in the South Asia region, especially India’s Agni-4 and Agni-5, with systems such as HQ-19, which is considered more capable than the US Army’s Regional High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD). Taiwan, on the other hand, has the US PAC-3 and the indigenous Sky Bow systems.[8] On the other hand, Japan and South Korea are strengthening their air defense by using US-origin systems such as THAAD, AN/TPY-2 radar due to North Korea’s ballistic missile tests.[9]
With the importance that countries attach to air defense, efforts to produce or procure systems that integrate high-level technological developments have increased. In this context, the Paris Air Fair, held between 17-22 June 2025, stands out in terms of showcasing the latest versions of air defense technologies. Many countries, especially those with high defense industry capacity such as the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Israel, introduced their new generation air defense and attack systems at the fair.[10]
Israel’s Rafael presented the Iron Beam 450, which neutralizes drone, mortar and rocket threats at the speed of light with its 100+kw laser power, with its land and mobile versions for the first time.
Turgis&Gaillard from France exhibited Europe’s first fully independent MALE UAV with its 5.5-ton weight, 30-hour endurance, 1.5-ton payload capacity and US partless design suitable for armed attack missions.
The MBDA, developed in partnership with France and Italy, and the SAMP/T NG air defense missile system, which provides 360° coverage with Thales’ GM300 AESA radar equipped with Thales’ Aster 30 B1NT missiles, were presented. It is Europe’s first fully integrated system capable of ballistic missile defense, defending against multiple threats such as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons and drones.
The Tempest project, a 6th generation fighter jet program supported by artificial intelligence, which is planned to be used in missions such as autonomous drones, electronic warfare, intelligence and target destruction, developed jointly by the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan, was presented.
Turkey’s Baykar attracted the attention of the participants with Kemankeş-1, a mini smart cruise munition resistant to enemy electronic jamming, which can be dropped from the air by unmanned aerial vehicles such as TB2 or Akıncı, has a range of more than 200 kilometers, can recognize and hit its target with artificial intelligence.
In addition to being an event where air defense systems were exhibited, the Paris Air Fair was also an important event in terms of showing that air defense is an important foreign policy tool through bilateral agreements.[11] In this context, the GlobalEye early warning aircraft (AWACS) from the Swedish defense company Saab can be given as an example. With the GlobalEye, which can detect enemy planes and missiles from far away, guide friendly planes in the air, see even radar-blind areas such as mountains, and provide communication between air and ground forces, it is understood that France is trying to ensure autonomy in national air defense.
American defense companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have signed co-production, technology transfer and missile production agreements with European companies such as Rheinmetall and MBDA.
Another striking example is the launch of LBA Systems, a joint venture between Baykar and Leonardo. LBA Systems aims to produce and market advanced air systems by integrating Baykar’s platforms with Leonardo’s high-tech sensor, radar and command and control systems. With this partnership, it will be easier for Baykar UAVs to enter the European market, while Leonardo will have the opportunity to increase its competitiveness in unmanned aerial vehicles.
Lithuania’s order for three KC-390 tactical transport aircraft from Brazilian Embraer was an important cooperation as a Latin American defense product was sold to a NATO member country.
As a result, air defense has become a key element in the security policies of medium and small-sized countries as well as great powers. Today, it is important for strategic superiority and sovereignty to control, interpret and, when necessary, autonomously defend the airspace with national and indigenous systems, rather than having fighter jets or conventional missiles.
The participants, systems and collaborations at the Paris Air Fair 2025 show that the global defense architecture is shifting to a multipolar and flexible structure in which technology is at the forefront. In addition to technological advancements such as laser-based, artificial intelligence-supported, mobile platforms in the field of defense, it is understood that multidimensional collaborations and diplomatic contacts such as joint production and technology sharing come to the fore beyond the purchase of ammunition. Therefore, the exhibition gives clues that every country that prioritizes security can create a road map in the new security equation consisting of technological independence and diplomatic flexibility as well as military capability.
[1] “Drone attack from Ukraine to Russia’s capital: Flights stopped in Moscow”, NTV, https://www.ntv.com.tr/dunya/ukraynadan-rusyanin-baskentine-drone-saldirisi-moskovada-ucuslar-durduruldu,Am18aP-0hEGjTKoqDr_IUg, (Accessed: 22.06.2025).
[2] “NATO must boost air and missile defences fourfold to counter Russia’s threat, Rutte says”, Euronews, https://www.euronews.com/2025/06/09/nato-chief-to-call-for-quantum-leap-in-defence-spending-over-growing-threats, (Accessed: 22.06.2025).
[3] Gamze Bal, “Europe’s Partnership in Air and Missile Defense: European Sky Shield”, ANKASAM, https://www.ankasam.org/anka-analizler/avrupanin-hava-ve-fuze-savunmasinda-ortakligi-avrupa-gokyuzu-kalkani/, (Accessed: 22.06.2025).
[4] “What is Israel’s multi-layered defense against Iranian missiles?”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/what-are-israels-iron-dome-arrow-missile-defences-2024-04-14/, (Accessed: 22.06.2025).
[5] “Exclusive: Iran Launches Next-Gen Air Defense Missile System Bavar 373-II with Extended Range and Autonomy”, Army Recognition Group, https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2025/exclusive-iran-launches-next-gen-air-defense-missile-system-bavar-373-ii-with-extended-range-and-autonomy, (Accessed 22.06.2025).
[6] “US sends multiple Patriot batteries to Saudi Arabia to counter Houthi attacks”, Yeni Yemen, https://yeniyemen.net/tr/p-223676, (Accessed: 22.06.2025).
[7] “China’s new HQ-19 surface-to-air missile system aims to rival US THAAD with advanced interception capabilities”, Army Recognition Group, https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/army-news-2024/chinas-new-hq-19-surface-to-air-missile-system-aims-to-rival-us-thaad-with-advanced-interception-capabilities, (Accessed: 22.06.2025).
[8] Saksi Tiwari, “At 12 New Military Bases, Taiwan To Deploy Indigenous Sky Bow-III Missiles To Counter PLAAF Warplanes – Reports”, The Eurasian Times, https://www.eurasiantimes.com/t-12-new-military-bases-taiwan-to-deploy-indigenous-sky-bow-iii/, (Date of Access: 22.06.2025).
[9] Yavuz Aydın, “THAAD in focus: US missile defense system soon to be deployed in Israel”, Anadolu Agency, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/thaad-in-focus-us-missile-defense-system-soon-to-be-deployed-in-israel/3363264, (Accessed: 22.06.2025).
[10] Leila Abboud and Sylvia Pfeifer, “Europe’s air defense dilemma: can Franco-Italian system rival US Patriot?”, Financial Times, https://www.ft.com/content/c1b9a064-d193-475a-8be7-d45828d6a01e, (Accessed: 22.06.2025).
[11] “Paris Air Show 2025 Day Tree”, Royal Aeronautical Society, https://www.aerosociety.com/about-us/, (Accessed: 22.06.2025).
