Turkey has conducted successful live-fire tests of its domestically developed Gökdoğan and Bozdoğan air-to-air missiles from F-16 fighter jets. The milestone is part of Ankara’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on foreign missile systems and achieve full-spectrum indigenous air combat capability. These tests mark the transition of both missiles into the final stages of operational qualification.
Indigenous AAM Development Led by TÜBİTAK SAGE
The Gökdoğan (Peregrine) and Bozdoğan (Merlin) missiles are being developed under the Göktuğ program by TÜBİTAK SAGE (Defense Industries Research and Development Institute), Turkey’s leading defense R&D body. The program aims to deliver both a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile—Gökdoğan—and a Within Visual Range (WVR) short-range missile—Bozdoğan—for integration with Turkish fighter aircraft.
The Göktuğ project was launched in 2013 as part of Turkey’s long-term goal to establish sovereign capabilities in advanced air combat munitions. Until now, the Turkish Air Force has relied on U.S.-supplied AIM-120 AMRAAMs for BVR engagements and AIM-9 Sidewinders for WVR combat. With increasing geopolitical friction and arms export restrictions from Western suppliers following Turkey’s acquisition of Russian S-400 systems in 2019, Ankara accelerated indigenous alternatives.
Technical Specifications and Capabilities
Bozdoğan is a high-agility WVR missile designed for dogfighting scenarios. It features an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker with off-boresight targeting capability and thrust vector control for superior maneuverability. According to TÜBİTAK SAGE documentation:
- Range: ~25 km
- Guidance: Imaging Infrared Seeker + Inertial Navigation System
- Targeting: High off-boresight angle with helmet-mounted cueing compatibility
- Maneuverability: Capable of >50g turns via thrust vectoring
Gökdoğan, the BVR counterpart, utilizes active radar homing similar to the AIM-120 AMRAAM. It incorporates mid-course inertial navigation updated via datalink before terminal active radar guidance:
- Range: >65 km (estimated)
- Guidance: Active Radar Homing + Inertial Navigation + Datalink updates
- Propulsion: Solid-fuel rocket motor optimized for long-range intercepts
- Warhead: High explosive fragmentation warhead with proximity fuze
TÜBİTAK has stated that both missiles are designed to be compatible with NATO-standard launch interfaces such as MIL-STD-1760 and can be integrated onto legacy platforms like the F-16 as well as next-generation fighters.
Flight Tests from F-16s Signal Maturity Phase
The latest flight tests were conducted at Sinop Test Range on Turkey’s Black Sea coast using Turkish Air Force F-16 Block 40 aircraft modified for live weapon release trials. Video footage released by Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense shows successful launches followed by target intercepts using both optical tracking systems and onboard telemetry.
This follows earlier captive carry tests conducted since at least 2018. In April 2021, a Bozdoğan missile was test-fired from an F-16 against a target drone in what was then described as one of the final developmental firings before series production. The October 2025 firings appear to confirm that both AAMs have reached or are nearing Initial Operational Capability (IOC).
The Turkish Air Force plans to integrate these munitions into its frontline squadrons over the next two years while continuing parallel development for use on future platforms like the indigenously developed KAAN fifth-generation stealth fighter.
Toward Autonomy in Tactical Airpower
The deployment of Gökdoğan and Bozdoğan is strategically significant beyond their technical merits. By fielding homegrown AAMs across both visual engagement bands, Turkey reduces dependence on politically sensitive imports like AMRAAMs or Sidewinders—both subject to U.S. export controls.
This autonomy becomes more critical given recent Western reluctance to supply advanced munitions following Ankara’s strategic divergence from NATO norms in areas such as Syria policy or Russian defense cooperation.
The Göktuğ family also complements other indigenous aerospace programs including:
- SOM-J: Stand-off cruise missile developed jointly with ROKETSAN for internal carriage aboard KAAN or external carriage on F-16s/F-35s.
- KUZGUN: Modular glide bomb family offering INS/GPS guidance with optional IIR/laser seekers.
- Kaan Fighter Jet: Turkey’s fifth-generation stealth aircraft under development by TAI; expected to replace aging F-4E Phantoms and supplement/replace F-16C/D fleet post-2030.
NATO Compatibility vs Export Potential
TÜBİTAK SAGE has emphasized that both AAMs are designed with NATO interoperability standards in mind—including MIL-STD datalinks and seeker modes compatible with NATO-standard fire control radars like APG-68(V). This could ease integration not only into Turkish platforms but also those operated by friendly nations seeking alternatives to U.S.-controlled munitions markets.
Ankara has already expressed interest in exporting these systems once domestic needs are met. Potential customers include Pakistan—already operating Turkish UCAVs—and Azerbaijan, which used Turkish-supplied weapons extensively during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh war. However, export success will depend on proving reliability through sustained operational use within Turkey’s own air force first.
Outlook and Strategic Implications
If brought into full operational service across multiple platforms—including drones like Bayraktar Kızılelma or manned fighters like KAAN—the Göktuğ family could form the backbone of an entirely indigenous Turkish aerial strike package within this decade.
This would not only mitigate risks posed by foreign sanctions but also position Turkey as a regional supplier of advanced tactical munitions—a role currently dominated by U.S., European, Russian, and increasingly Chinese manufacturers.
The successful test firings mark more than just technological progress—they signal Ankara’s intent to reshape regional power dynamics through sovereign control over key components of modern air warfare doctrine.
