GÖKTUĞ is a Turkish program by TÜBİTAK-SAGE to develop four variants of air-to-air missiles that are to be launched from F-16s as well as future Turkish indigenous TAI Hürjet and TAI TF Kaan and combat aircraft from other nations such as CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder. These missiles are going to be Turkey's first indigenous air-to-air missiles. [1] [2] Merlin (Bozdoğan) is short-range infrared homing missile and Peregrine (Gökdoğan) is a beyond-visual-range active radar homing missile. [3] [4] Other two projects are ramjet engine powered BVR air-to-air missile and very-short-range mini air-to-air missile for helicopter. [5] [6]
The Merlin and Peregrine missiles were successfully flight-tested in 2018. [7] These missiles are planned to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM respectively on Turkey's crewed warplanes, [8] and are also planned to be integrated on Bayraktar AKINCI and Bayraktar Kızılelma, indigenously developed Turkish UCAVs. [9] Both Merlin and Peregrine missiles entered inventory in 30 July 2024. [10]
The development of an air-to-air missile powered by ramjet engine was officially announced in August 2021. The director of the TÜBİTAK SAGE Gürcan Okumuş stated the completion of more than 100 tests that carried the firing of the new ramjet engine. [5] [11]
An air-to-air missile (AAM) is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fueled but sometimes liquid fueled. Ramjet engines, as used on the Meteor, are emerging as propulsion that will enable future medium- to long-range missiles to maintain higher average speed across their engagement envelope.
The National Research Institute of Electronics and Cryptology of Turkey, shortly UEKAE, is a national scientific organization with the aim of developing advanced technologies for information security. UEKAE is the most prominent and also the founder (first) institute of the TÜBİTAK.
The Scientific and Technological Research Institution of Türkiye is a national agency of Türkiye whose stated goal is to develop "science, technology and innovation" (STI) policies, support and conduct research and development, and to "play a leading role in the creation of a science and technology culture" in the country.
The TAI Anka is a family of unmanned aerial vehicles developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries primarily for the Turkish Air Force. Envisioned in the early 2000s for aerial surveillance and reconnaissance missions, Anka has evolved into a modular platform with synthetic-aperture radar, precise weapons and satellite communication.
Roketsan Roket Sanayii ve Ticaret A.S. is a Turkish weapons manufacturer and defense contractor based in Ankara, Turkey. Incorporated in 1988 by Turkey's Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSİK) to establish the nation's industrial base on missile technology, the company has quickly risen to become one of Turkey's top 500 industrial corporations.
The TAI Hürkuş is a tandem two-seat, low-wing, single-engine, turboprop aircraft being produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) as a trainer and ground attack aircraft for the Turkish Armed Forces.
The TAI Kaan also called TF and MMU, is a stealth, twin-engine, all-weather air superiority fighter in development by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and sub-contractor BAE Systems. The jet is to replace the Turkish Air Force's F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and to be sold to foreign governments.
The Vestel Karayel is a surveillance, reconnaissance and later combat unmanned aerial vehicle system developed by Vestel Savunma later the company renamed as Lentatek. The drone is currently operated by Turkish Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia.
TÜBİTAK Defense Industries Research and Development Institute, shortly TÜBİTAK SAGE, is a Turkish institution carrying out research and development projects on defense industry technology.
The Bayraktar UAV or Bayraktar UCAV is a family of unmanned aerial vehicles designed and manufactured by Turkish company Baykar. The UAVs were developed for the Turkish Armed Forces from 2004 until the present. Some models are designed for surveillance and reconnaissance only, others are capable of tactical ground-strike missions. Baykar is also developing drones to counter other aerial systems. The word bayraktar means flag-bearer in Turkish.
The Hisar is a family of short, medium and long-range surface-to-air missile systems being developed by Roketsan and Aselsan since 2007. The missiles are developed by Roketsan, while most sensors and electronics are developed by Aselsan. The missile family consists of the short range Hisar-A and medium range Hisar-O air defence system. Missile seeker of Hisar-A and Hisar-O is infrared homing. The long range version “Hisar-U” evolved into the Siper long range air defence system project.
Bayraktar Akıncı is a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) being manufactured by the Turkish defence company Baykar. The first three units entered service with the Turkish Armed Forces on 29 August 2021.
Haluk Bayraktar is a Turkish engineer and executive. He is the CEO of Baykar, TUBITAK Board Member and founder and chairman of the board of Turkey Technology Team Foundation and SAHA Istanbul. He is a pioneer of Turkey for autonomous technology efforts which reshaped battlefields and geopolitics which resulted with a change of future warfare doctrines.
The Bayraktar Kızılelma is a single-engine, low-observable, carrier-capable, jet-powered unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), currently in development by Turkish defense company Baykar. The aircraft is being developed as part of Project MIUS. The initial Bayraktar Kızılelma (Kızılelma-A) is subsonic. Planned variants are intended to be supersonic, the latter having a twin-engined configuration. It is one of the two Turkish jet-powered stealth UCAV along with TAI Anka-3.
The Baykar Bayraktar TB3 is a Turkish carrier-based medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) capable of short-range landing and take-off, produced by Baykar.
Songar is a low-altitude, quadrotor, unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UAEV) that was developed by Asisguard for the Turkish Armed Forces.
The Merlin, also known as Bozdoğan, is a short-range air-to-air missile developed by the Turkish company TÜBİTAK SAGE. The missile is developed from the GÖKTUĞ program. The missile uses an off-boresight capable IIR seeker with all aspect engagement capability and counter-countermeasure capability. The missile has High thrust reduced smoke solid propellant technology and an electronic rocket motor aiming and firing system. According to the manufacturer, it will has advanced agility due to use of thrust vectoring, a unique warhead for maximum probability of kill and a reliable fuze. It missile is compatible with MIL-STD-1553 and MIL-STD-1760 and is designed for use with the LAU-129 guided missile launcher.
The Peregrine, also known as Gökdoğan, is a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the Turkish company TÜBİTAK SAGE. The missile is developed from the GÖKTUĞ program.