Lethal Innovation: A Complete Overview Of Turkish Designed Air-Launched Munitions

By Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans

Most who follow international affairs know about Türkiye's rise to a global drone power. Not nearly as widely known is the fact that the precision-guided munitions carried by Turkish drones are being introduced just as swiftly as the drones carrying them. This meanwhile comprises an expansive arsenal of guided munitions cleared for use on several types of unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) and combat aircraft. The latter includes the upcoming Hürjet jet trainer and Kaan (TF-X) stealth fighter. The fact that all of these munitions adhere to NATO standards for munitions means that countries can easily integrate Turkish-produced munitions on their own aircraft, which might be precisely what ensures their commercial success.

These munitions have so far included anything from an airborne laser system to cruise missiles and even the METE laser-guided mini-missile. [1] More conventional armament types include the LGK, HGK and KGK family of precision-guided munitions. These munitions consist of indigenously designed guidance kits mated to locally-produced Mark-82, Mark-83 and Mark-84 dumb bombs. The result of Türkiye's efforts towards attaining near self-sufficiency in the defence sector is that even within the same companies there meanwhile is significant overlap in mission scope for each munition, with a variety of munitions capable of tackling the same task should the requirement arise.

One often-overlooked factor of Türkiye's determined attempt at achieving industrial self-sufficiency is that Türkiye not only intends to produce a system, but also everything that might be related to it. This strategy extents beyond the defence industry, with other areas such as the car industry and railways also seeing significant investments on a broad basis. While Türkiye could previously construct railways in other countries, soon it will also be able to deliver the trains that operate on it. This strategy will ultimately ensure that more contracts will be awarded to Turkish companies, and is certain to pay off massively in the future.

The design and integration tests of some of the armament listed below is still in progress as of the writing of this article. The maximum range of the weaponry is indicated in brackets. The actual range of some munitions is lower when carried by UCAVs as opposed to high-flying jet aircraft. As Türkiye's F-4E-2020 Terminator strike aircraft are scheduled for retirement in the not too distant future, it has not been included as a carriage aircraft in this list. That said, any armament that can be used by the F-16 is generally also cleared for use by the F-4E-2020.

(Click on the armament to see a picture of them)

Air-To-Air Missiles (AAMs)

Roketsan Sungur IIR-guided MANPADS [8+km] (For UCAVs and attack helicopters)
TÜBİTAK SAGE Bozdoğan IIR-guided AAM [30km] (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Kaan, Hürjet and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE Gökdoğan BVRAAM [~100km] (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE Akdoğan AAM (For UCAVs) [Still in development]
TÜBİTAK SAGE Gökhan Ramjet BVRAAM (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Kaan and F-16) [Still in development]

Anti-Radiation Missiles (ARMs)

Roketsan Akbaba (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Kaan and F-16) [Still in development]

Airborne Lasers

TÜBİTAK SAGE EREN (For VTOL UCAVs)

(Anti-Ship) Cruise Missiles

TÜBİTAK SAGE SOM-A [275+km] (Uses GPS/INS guidance) [HE fragmentation for use against stationary targets] (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE SOM-B1 [275+km] (Uses GPS/INS/IIR guidance) [HE fragmentation warhead for use against stationary targets) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE SOM-B2 [275+km] (Uses GPS/INS/IIR guidance) [Tandem penatration warhead for use against hardened targets) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE SOM-C1 [275+km] (Uses GPS/INS/IIR guidance and datalink) [HE fragmentation warhead for use against mobile targets] (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Kaan and F-16) [Still in development]
TÜBİTAK SAGE SOM-C2 [275+km] (Uses GPS/INS/IIR guidance and datalink) [Tandem penatration warhead for use against mobile hardened targets] (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Kaan and F-16) [Still in development]
TÜBİTAK SAGE SOM-J [275+km] (Uses GPS/INS/IIR guidance and datalink) [Semi-armor piercing warhead for use against naval vessels] (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Kaan and F-16) [Still in development]
Roketsan ÇAKIR CR [150km] (Uses GPS/INS/IIR/RF guidance and datalink) [HE/Thermobaric warhead for use against ground targets] (For UCAVs) [Still in development]
Roketsan ÇAKIR AS [150km] (Uses GPS/INS/IIR/RF guidance and datalink) [Semi-armour piercing warhead for use against naval vessels] [Still in development]
Roketsan ÇAKIR LIR [150km] (Uses GPS/INS/IIR/RF guidance and datalink) [Electronic warfare payload] (For UCAVs) [Still in development]
Roketsan ÇAKIR SW [150km] (Uses GPS/INS/IIR/RF/Swarm sensor guidance and datalink) [Semi-armour piercing warhead for use against naval vessels] (For UCAVs) [Still in development]
Roketsan Atmaca [220km] (Uses GPS/INS/IIR/RF and datalink) [Semi-armour piercing warhead for use against naval vessels] (For Akıncı and F-16) [Still in development]
Baykar KEMANKEŞ (For UCAVs) [Still in development]
Baykar KaGeM V3 [Still in development]

Loitering Munitions

STM ALPAGU [~10km range] (For Kızılelma and Akıncı)
Roketsan ALPAGUT [~60km range] (For Kızılelma and Akıncı)
TAI Şimşek [200km range] (For Anka, Anka-3, Aksungur and Akıncı)
TAI Super Şimşek [700km range] (For Anka, Anka-3, Aksungur and Akıncı)

Precision-Guided Munitions (PGMs)

TÜBİTAK SAGE TOGAN (GPS/INS guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced 81mm mortar round) (For VTOL UCAVs and fixed-wing UCAVs)
TÜBİTAK SAGE Bozok [9km] (Uses GPS/INS/Laser guidance) (For UCAVs)
TÜBİTAK SAGE KAYI 30 [25km] (Uses GPS/INS/Laser guidance) (For UCAVs)
TÜBİTAK SAGE KAYI 50 [25km] (Uses GPS/INS/Laser guidance) (For UCAVs)
Roketsan MAM-C [15+km] (Uses GPS/INS/Laser guidance) (For UCAVs)
Roketsan MAM-L [15+km] (Uses GPS/INS/Laser guidance) (For UCAVs)
Roketsan MAM-L + [25+km] (Uses IIR and datalink guidance) (For UCAVs)
Aselsan LGK-82 [12+km] (Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82 bomb) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
Aselsan LGK-84 [12+km] (Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.84 bomb) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Kaan and F-16)
Roketsan Teber-81 [28km] (GPS/INS/Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.81 bomb) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
Roketsan Teber-82 [28km] (GPS/INS/Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82 bomb) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
Roketsan Laçin [28km] (GPS/INS/IIR guidance and datalink integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE GÖZDE [28km] (GPS/INS/Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE GÖKÇE [28km] (GPS/INS/Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.83) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE HGK-82 [28km] (GPS/INS guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82 bomb) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürkuş, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE HGK-83 [28km] (GPS/INS guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.83 bomb) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE HGK-84 [28km] (GPS/INS guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.84 bomb) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE LHGK-84 [28km] (GPS/INS/Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.84) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE Kuzgun-SS [40+km] (Uses INS/GPS/Laser/IIR/CCD-mmW radar guidance and datalink) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
Roketsan MAM-T [80+km] (Uses GPS/INS/Laser guidance) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, TB3, Hürjet and F-16)
Aselsan MİNBO Small Diameter Bomb [100km] (Uses GPS/INS guidance) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
Aselsan IIR Small Diameter Bomb [100km] (Uses infrared imaging guidance) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE KGK-82 [110km] (GPS/INS and wing guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82 bomb) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürkuş, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE KGK-SİHA-82 [110km] (GPS/INS/Laser and wing guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82 bomb) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı and Aksungur) [Still in development]
TÜBİTAK SAGE KGK-83 [110km] (GPS/INS and wing guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.83 bomb) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE KGK-84 [100km] (GPS/INS and wing guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.84 bomb) (For Kızılelma, Kaan and F-16)

Precision-Guided Bunker Busters

TÜBİTAK SAGE SERT-82 [28km] (Turkish-produced Mk.82 penetrator bomb fitted with a GPS/INS guidance) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE SARB-83 [28km] (Turkish-produced Mk.83 penetrator bomb fitted with a GPS/INS guidance) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE SARB-83T [28km] (Turkish-produced Mk.83 thermobaric penetrator bomb fitted with a laser guidance) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE NEB-84 [28km] (Turkish-produced Mk.84 penetrator bomb fitted with a GPS/INS guidance) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE NEB-84T [28km] (Turkish-produced Mk.84 thermobaric penetrator bomb fitted with a GPS/INS guidance) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)

Precision-Guided Air-To-Surface Missiles (ASMs)

Roketsan METE [1km] (Uses laser-guidance) (For VTOL UCAVs)
Roketsan UMTAS [8km] (Uses IIR-guidance) (For UCAVs, attack helicopters and Hürkuş)
Roketsan L-UMTAS [16km] (Uses laser-guidance) (For UCAVs, attack helicopters and Hürkuş)
Roketsan UMTAS-GM Blok 1 [20km] (Uses IIR/laser-guidance) (For UCAVs, attack helicopters and Hürkuş)
Roketsan UMTAS-GM Blok 2 [50km] (Uses CCD/IIR-guidance) (For UCAVs, attack helicopters and Hürkuş) [Still in development]
Roketsan Cirit [8km] (Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced 70mm rocket) (For UCAVs, attack helicopters and Hürkuş)
TÜBİTAK SAGE Kuzgun-KY [40+km] (Uses INS/GPS/Laser/IIR/CCD-mmW radar guidance and datalink) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
IHA-230 [140+km] (Uses INS/GPS guidance) (For Akıncı)
TÜBİTAK SAGE Kuzgun-TJ [180+km] (Uses INS/GPS/Laser/IIR/CCD-mmW radar guidance and datalink) (For Kızılelma, Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)

General-Purpose Bombs

MKE Mk.81 (For Hürkuş, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
MKE Mk.82 (For Hürkuş, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
MKE Mk.82T Thermobaric (For Hürkuş, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
MKE Mk.82 Reduced Explosives (For Hürkuş, Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
MKE Mk.83 (For Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
MKE Mk.84 (For Hürjet, Kaan and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE TOGAN (Turkish-produced 81mm mortar round) (For VTOL UCAVs and fixed-wing UCAVs)