Deadly Advanced: A Complete Overview Of Turkish Designed Air-Launched Munitions

By Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans

Most know about Turkey's rise to a global drone power. Not nearly as well known is that the precision-guided munitions carried by Turkish drones are being introduced just as swiftly as the drones carrying them. This meanwhile consists of 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 the Hürjet jet trainer and 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 Turkey's attempt 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 Turkey's determined attempt at achieving industrial self-sufficiency is that Turkey 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 Turkey 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 hugely for Turkey 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 opposed to high-flying jet aircraft. As Turkey'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 Akıncı, TF-X, Hürjet and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE Gökdoğan BVRAAM [~100km] (For Akıncı, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE Akdoğan AAM (For UCAVs) [Still in development]

Anti-Radition Missiles (ARMs)

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

Airborne Lasers

TÜBİTAK SAGE EREN (For VTOL UCAVs)

Cruise Missiles

TÜBİTAK SAGE SOM-A [275+km] (Uses GPS/INS guidance) [HE fragmentation for use against stationary targets] (For Akıncı, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE SOM-B1 [275+km] (Uses GPS/INS/IIR guidance) [HE fragmentation warhead for use against stationary targets) (For Akıncı, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE SOM-B2 [275+km] (Uses GPS/INS/IIR guidance) [Tandem penatration warhead for use against hardened targets) (For Akıncı, TF-X 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 Akıncı, TF-X 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 Akıncı, TF-X 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 Akıncı, TF-X and F-16) [Still in development]

Loitering Munitions

STM ALPAGU [~10km range] (For Akıncı)
TAI Şimşek [200km range] (For Anka, Aksungur and Akıncı)

Precision-Guided Muntions (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)
Aselsan LGK-82 [12+km] (Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82 bomb) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
Aselsan LGK-84 [12+km] (Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.84 bomb) (For Akıncı, TF-X and F-16)
Roketsan Teber-81 [28km] (GPS/INS/Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.81 bomb) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
Roketsan Teber-82 [28km] (GPS/INS/Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82 bomb) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
Roketsan Laçin [28km] (GPS/INS/IIR guidance and datalink integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE GÖZDE [28km] (GPS/INS/Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE GÖKÇE [28km] (GPS/INS/Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.83) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE HGK-82 [28km] (GPS/INS guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82 bomb) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürkuş, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE HGK-83 [28km] (GPS/INS guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.83 bomb) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE HGK-84 [28km] (GPS/INS guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.84 bomb) (For Akıncı, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE LHGK-84 [28km] (GPS/INS/Laser guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.84) (For Akıncı, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE Kuzgun-SS [40+km] (Uses INS/GPS/Laser/IIR/CCD-mmW radar guidance and datalink) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
Roketsan MAM-T [80+km] (Uses GPS/INS/Laser guidance) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, TB3, Hürjet and F-16)
Aselsan Small Diameter Bomb [100km] (Uses GPS/INS guidance) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
Aselsan IIR Small Diameter Bomb [100km] (Uses infrared imaging guidance) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE KGK-82 [110km] (GPS/INS and wing guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82 bomb) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürkuş, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE KGK-SİHA-82 [110km] (GPS/INS/Laser and wing guidance integrated on a Turkish-produced Mk.82 bomb) (For 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 Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X 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 Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE SARB-83 [28km] (Turkish-produced Mk.83 penetrator bomb fitted with a GPS/INS guidance) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE SARB-83T [28km] (Turkish-produced Mk.83 thermobaric penetrator bomb fitted with a laser guidance) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE NEB-84 [28km] (Turkish-produced Mk.84 penetrator bomb fitted with a GPS/INS guidance) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE NEB-84T [28km] (Turkish-produced Mk.84 thermobaric penetrator bomb fitted with a GPS/INS guidance) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X 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 [8km] (Uses laser-guidance) (For UCAVs, attack helicopters and Hürkuş)
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 Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)
TÜBİTAK SAGE Kuzgun-TJ [180+km] (Uses INS/GPS/Laser/IIR/CCD-mmW radar guidance and datalink) (For Akıncı, Aksungur, Hürjet, TF-X and F-16)

General-Purpose Bombs

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