Turkey Joins Elite Military Powers With Planned ICBM Test

Turkey is taking a significant step toward joining the global military elite by testing a missile that would put much of Europe and the Middle East within reach and eventually lead to the launch of real-time intelligence satellites, according to people familiar with the plans.

The country showcased an intercontinental ballistic missile at an expo this week, joining the US, Russia and only a handful of other powers that have the weapons. Turkey’s ICBM has a range of 6,000 kilometers (3,750 miles) and the plan is to test fire it in Somalia later this year at the earliest, the people said, declining to be identified when talking about sensitive defense matters.