Türkiye Successfully Test-Fires Locally Designed Gokdogan Air-to-Air Missile
Türkiye has successfully test-fired its first domestically designed and produced beyond-visibility air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), Gokdogan, with pinpoint accuracy, according to Mehmet Fatih Kacir, the Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology. Kacir shared the successful test results on social media, announcing that Gokdogan hit its target aircraft directly during the test.
Gokdogan is developed by Türkiye’s Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK) and is part of the medium-range, beyond-line-of-sight missile family, known as Goktug. The missile, designed between 2013 and 2024, uses an active radar seeker for guidance.
A Strategic Leap for Türkiye’s Defense Industry
Minister Kacir described the test as a major step towards Türkiye’s goal of achieving full independence in critical defense technologies. He emphasized that Gokdogan represents a significant leap in Türkiye’s air-to-air missile capabilities.
Haluk Gorgun, the head of Türkiye’s Defense Industries Secretariat, highlighted the importance of air-to-air missile technology for air dominance and deterrence, calling Gokdogan a “strategic step” in strengthening Türkiye’s local and national power in defense.
Gorgun also congratulated the institutions, engineers, and industry professionals who contributed to the development of the missile, particularly TUBITAK’s SAGE (Defense Industries Research and Development Institute).
With Gokdogan’s success, Türkiye moves closer to achieving self-sufficiency in advanced defense technologies, further solidifying its position in the global defense arena.
