Bozdoğan (air-to-air missile)
Turkish-made portable fire-and-forget anti-tank missile
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Bozdoğan (Merlin), is a short-range air-to-air missile developed by the Turkish company TÜBİTAK SAGE. The missile is developed under the GÖKTUĞ program starting from year 2013. The missile is being developed to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles used by the Turkish Air Force. The missile uses an off-boresight capable IIR (Imaging infrared) seeker with all aspect engagement capability and counter-countermeasure capability.[6][7] The missile has High thrust reduced smoke solid propellant technology and an electronic rocket motor aiming and firing system. According to the manufacturer, it will have advanced agility due to use of thrust vectoring, a unique warhead for maximum probability of kill and a reliable fuze. It missile is compatible with MIL-STD-1553 and MIL-STD-1760 and is designed for use with the LAU-129 guided missile launcher. The missile has a range of 25+ km.[6]
| Bozdoğan (Merlin) | |
|---|---|
Bozdoğan (displayed lower-back) infrared homing short-range air-to-air missile at the IDEF 2019 in Istanbul, Turkey | |
| Type | Short-range air-to-air missile |
| Place of origin | Turkey |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2024[1] |
| Used by | Turkish Air Force |
| Production history | |
| Designer | TÜBİTAK SAGE |
| Designed | 2013 - 2025[2][3] |
| Manufacturer | TÜBİTAK SAGE |
| Variants | GÖKSUR[4] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 140 kg[5] |
| Length | 3.3 m[5] |
| Diameter | 160 mm[5] |
| Warhead | Fragmentation warhead |
| Engine | Low smoke solid-fuel rocket with thrust vectoring control[6] |
Operational range | 25+ km[6] |
| Maximum speed | Mach 4 |
Guidance system | High resolution imaging infrared (IIR) homing |
Launch platform | F-16, JF-17, TAI TF Kaan, TAI Hürjet |
History
On 14 April 2021, Bozdoğan conducted a live firing test from a Turkish Air Force F-16. The missile successfully destroyed a TAI Şimşek target drone.[8] Bozdoğan reaches a speed of greater than Mach 4.[9] It was announced that preparations for mass production have begun in 2022.[10] The first prototype contract for the supply of the missile to the Turkish Air Force was made in 2023. Within the scope of the project; It is aimed to integrate the Bozdoğan and Gökdoğan Missiles into the PO-III configuration of F-16 aircraft and to procure 25 Bozdoğan Missiles, 25 Gökdoğan Missiles and 14 Launchers and to make the first delivery in 2025.[11] The first prototypes were delivered on July 28, 2024.[1] The Bozdoğan missile will also be used in the air defense system called Göksur, developed by Aselsan. The Göksur system, whose first tests were conducted in 2024, successfully completed its first firing test in February 2025.[12]
