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Türkiye has successfully completed demanding test flights of two domestically developed air-to-air missiles, demonstrating Ankara's advancing military capabilities, according to Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir.
The Bozdogan and Gokdogan missiles, both developed by the TUBITAK Defense Industries Research and Development Institute (SAGE), underwent rigorous testing and proved their combat effectiveness, Kacir said.
The minister called the missiles "two unwavering talons of the sky homeland" in a statement posted on the social media platform X on Sunday.
The Bozdogan is a within-visual-range air-to-air missile (WVR) designed for close-range aerial engagements.
Equipped with advanced infrared-seeking technology, the weapon delivers superior maneuverability through thrust vector control and maintains all-aspect engagement capability, according to specifications provided by the TUBITAK SAGE.
The missile has a range exceeding 25 kilometers (15.5 miles).
The Gokdogan represents a longer-range system. A beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), it uses an active radar seeker and provides fire-and-forget engagement capability, meaning operators can launch and disengage before impact.
The system features lock-on-after-launch functionality and can engage multiple targets.
The Gokdogan's range exceeds 65 kilometers, according to specifications provided by the TUBITAK SAGE.
Both missiles incorporate advanced countermeasures and employ solid propellant rocket engines with reduced smoke technology.
Each carries a custom-designed warhead engineered for maximum lethality while maintaining distinguished safety and reliability standards.
Kacir characterized the successful tests as evidence of Türkiye's advanced engineering capabilities and commitment to full military independence, saying, "Two signatures etched in the sky by our advanced engineering, unrelenting determination, and ideal of full independence."
Test footage released by the ministry showed both missiles achieving direct hits on aerial targets in challenging conditions.
Both systems comply with military standards MIL-STD-1553 and MIL-STD-1760 and were designed for use with the LAU-129 launcher platform, which is integrated with the F-16.
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