Turkey's first national air-to-air missiles to be showcased at IDEF 2017

Turkey's first national air-to-air missiles will be displayed at the 13^th International Defense Industry Fair 2017.

Science, Industry and Technology Minister Faruk Özlü announced that Turkey's first national air-to-air missiles, GÖKDOĞAN and BOZDOĞAN, will be launched at the IDEF 2017.

The missiles were developed by the Scientific and Technological Research Council's (TÜBİTAK) Defense Industry Research and Development Institute (SAGE).

Speaking to the state-run Anadolu Agency, Minister Özlü explained that TÜBİTAK was in the process of conducting projects under the "National Research and Development for National Defense."

Özlü added that SAGE continues to provide services to the Turkish Armed Forces with important projects it has developed for the defense industry in this regard.

The minister explained that SAGE has already realized many successful projects including Turkey's first national intelligence ammunition package, the Precision Guidance Kit, as well as the national navigational Stand Off Missile (SOM) and the first aircraft missile with multiple warhead systems known as the Penetrator Bomb.

National active radar homing missile

Özlü also pointed out that SAGE focuses on increasingly complex and challenging targets that utilize the knowledge gained from previous ammunition and missile projects it has developed.

"SAGE started to work on air-to-air missiles in 2013. Within this framework, two new missiles were developed; namely, the short-range infrared seeker head GÖKDOĞAN and the high-maneuverability and long-range active radar homing missile BOZDOĞAN," he said.

"A major achievement in the field, Turkey's first active radar homing missile, which is also used with long-range air defense missiles, is designed entirely with national resources," he added.

National air-to-air missiles to be fired from F-16s

Meanwhile, Özlü noted that GÖKDOĞAN and BOZDOĞAN were developed to increase the strength and dominance of the Turkish Air Force.

He also added that the national air-to-air missiles can be fired from F-16 fighter jets.

The minister highlighted that SAGE aims to transform air-to-air missiles into systems that can compete with other air defense missiles on a global scale.

"We continue to work on the projects in order to bring GÖKDOĞAN and BOZDOĞAN to the Turkish Air Forces and we aim to complete the development projects in 2019," he said.

Özlü also indicated that projects developed by TUBİTAK, and later transferred to companies in the manufacturing defense industry, have made important contributions to Turkey's defense industry's localization.