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Türkiye's Defense Ministry confirmed Thursday that laboratory testing of the Yildirimhan long-range missile system has been successfully completed and that field testing is proceeding on schedule.
The ministry also provided updates during the weekly press briefing at SAHA 2026 on the Guchan turbofan engine. The domestically developed powerplant, designed to power advanced aerial platforms, has reached a significant performance benchmark, producing 42,000 lbf of thrust.
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"Laboratory test processes for the Yildirimhan missile system, which has a 3-ton warhead capacity, have been successfully completed and field testing activities are being carried out in accordance with the planned schedule," Defense Ministry spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk said at the SAHA 2026 press briefing.
Akturk confirmed that the fuel system for Yildirimhan, which uses Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and nitrogen tetroxide derivative liquid fuels, is produced entirely through domestic means by the ministry's R&D center.
"These fuel technologies provide high maneuverability to missile systems thanks to their long-term storability, ability to operate at low temperatures and high energy output," he said.
Akturk also provided the first detailed official disclosure of the Guchan turbofan jet engine, describing it as a high-thrust engine with all components developed and produced entirely by the Defense Ministry's R&D center.
Six units have been produced to date, with qualification testing planned for this year.
"The Guchan Turbofan Jet Engine is a national jet engine with high thrust developed entirely using domestic capabilities, with all components developed by the Ministry of National Defense R&D Center," Akturk said.
He noted the engine uses single-crystal technology to enhance component resistance to high temperatures and demanding operating conditions, resulting in "significant gains in efficiency, performance and service life."
The engine produces 42,000 pounds thrust and was designed with original engineering solutions tailored to Türkiye's needs, with the primary goal of reducing dependence on foreign suppliers in critical technologies.
The Ministry of National Defense is also showcasing a wide array of indigenous technologies at SAHA EXPO 2026, including the Golgehan wideband jammer, noted for its extensive "band-closing" capacity and broad-spectrum effectiveness.
Among the high-precision weaponry on display is the PNR-53 sniper rifle, cited as the world’s lightest weapon in its caliber with a maximum range of 2,100 meters. In the propulsion sector, the ministry introduced the Onur turboshaft engine, developed specifically for helicopter platforms.
The Machinery and Chemical Industries Corporation (MKE) is further bolstered by a significant presence, unveiling several key products for the first time:
These systems are part of a massive rollout of over 50 new products making their debut at the exhibition, underscoring Türkiye’s accelerating drive for defense self-sufficiency.
Contracts signed at the fair include a CBRN protective equipment supply agreement, artillery fuze supply agreements, a contract for four Denizhan naval guns with ASFAT, integration of Tolga close-air defense systems onto unmanned ground vehicles with Hungary's HT Division, and a memorandum with Azerbaijan's MIRAS defense company for BMP-1 armored vehicle modernization.
A letter of intent was also signed between ASFAT and Italy's Magnaghi Aerospace for the joint production of the SkyArrow aircraft platform, and a contract was signed to procure 27 ZAHA amphibious assault vehicles for the Naval Forces Command.
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