Turkey continues to strengthen its defense capabilities with new achievements in indigenous weapons technologies. Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Faruk Özlü announced that the country’s first national air-to-air missiles, GÖKDOĞAN and BOZDOĞAN, developed by TÜBİTAK’s Defense Industries Research and Development Institute (SAGE), will make their first public appearance at the 13th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2017). This milestone marks a critical step toward reducing foreign dependence in advanced missile systems.

TÜBİTAK SAGE, operating under the motto “National R&D for National Defense,” has played a major role in supplying the Turkish Armed Forces with high-technology solutions. With previous successes such as the Precision Guidance Kit, the SOM cruise missile, and the Penetrator Bomb, the institute has built a strong foundation of expertise that has paved the way for the development of indigenous air-to-air missiles.

GÖKDOĞAN is designed as a short-range, high-maneuverability missile equipped with an imaging infrared seeker, making it highly effective in close-range engagements. BOZDOĞAN, on the other hand, features a long-range capability and a nationally developed active radar seeker—marking Turkey’s first fully indigenous seeker technology used in advanced air defense missiles. This accomplishment demonstrates the country’s growing engineering capacity in missile guidance systems.

Both GÖKDOĞAN and BOZDOĞAN were developed to strengthen the Turkish Air Force’s air superiority and are compatible with F-16 fighter jets. These systems are expected to form an essential part of Turkey’s next-generation air defense and air combat capabilities in the coming years.