A live-fire test of the GÖKSUR Point Air Defense System—developed through a collaboration between ASELSAN and TÜBİTAK SAGE, two giants of the Turkish defense industry—was successfully conducted in Sinop. This test marks a critical milestone for Turkey: for the first time, a high-speed target flying close to the sea surface was hit with pinpoint accuracy by a domestically produced missile. The project aims to maximize the self-defense capabilities of Turkey’s naval platforms using domestic and national resources.
Technical Success of the Firing Test and the Next-Generation Missile
During the firing test conducted in Sinop, the technologies forming the foundation of the GÖKSUR System were successfully validated. The launch was carried out using the GÖKSUR 100-N VLS (Vertical Launch System ), developed with domestic capabilities.
The most significant technical achievement of the test was the first-ever use of a seeker-equipped missile. The GÖKSUR IIR Missile was guided toward the target during the mid-course phase via a GÜDÜ data link using the fire control system. In the terminal phase, the missile locked onto the target using its new-generation IIR (Imaging Infrared Seeker) seeker.
- Range: 11 km
- Target: A high-speed, anti-ship/cruise missile-like target flying close to the sea surface.
- Result: The target was destroyed by a direct hit (hit-to-kill).
This success demonstrates that Turkey has gained a revolutionary capability in its self-defense capacity, particularly against cruise missiles — which are among the most challenging targets to detect and destroy as they fly very close to the sea surface.
The GÖKSUR Product Family and Its Strategic Importance
GÖKSUR is a point air defense system developed for the self-defense of surface platforms against challenging asymmetric threats, particularly close-to-surface anti-ship and cruise missiles. By contributing to the modernization of existing missile defense systems on ships, the system strengthens the capabilities of the national defense industry.
The use of GÖKSUR on naval platforms establishes a critical line of defense against:
- Near-surface cruise missiles.
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
- Combat aircraft.
Different Configurations and Missile Options
The GÖKSUR Point Air Defense System will feature flexible configurations capable of meeting various operational needs:
- GÖKSUR 100-N VLS: A configuration equipped with a Modular Vertical Launch System (VLS) capability.
- GÖKSUR 100-N/CMS: A configuration capable of operating as an Integrated Combat Management System (CMS).
- GÖKSUR 100-N/StA: A standalone (All-in-One System) configuration.
The Depth of Missile Technology
GÖKSUR’s interceptor missile is the GÖKSUR IIR missile, developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE by adapting the BOZDOĞAN air-to-air missile to meet the needs of naval platforms. During this adaptation process, critical features such as a two-way data link and vertical launch capability were added. Wind tunnel tests —a critical part of the engineering process—were successfully completed using TÜBİTAK SAGE’s infrastructure.
The missile’s operational capabilities are highly advanced:
- BOZDOĞAN-DH (Data Link-Integrated Variant): It will be able to perform mid-course corrections using data from the ship’s and GÖKSUR’s sensors and will guide toward the target in the terminal phase using an IIR seeker.
- GÖKDOĞAN Option: According to ASELSAN’s statements, the GÖKDOĞAN beyond-line-of-sight air-to-air missile can also be used within the GÖKSUR System, which will further increase the system’s range and threat diversity.
This achievement represents a giant step toward establishing a fully domestic and national air defense umbrella that will meet the Turkish Navy’s future security needs.
