Bozdoğan (air-to-air missile)

Bozdoğan (Merlin)
Bozdoğan (displayed lower-back) infrared homing short-range air-to-air missile at the IDEF 2019 in Istanbul, Turkey
TypeShort-range air-to-air missile
Place of originTurkey
Service history
In service2024
Used byTurkish Air Force
Production history
DesignerTÜBİTAK SAGE
Designed2013 - 2025
ManufacturerTÜBİTAK SAGE
VariantsGÖKSUR
Specifications
Mass140 kg
Length3.3 m
Diameter160 mm
WarheadFragmentation warhead

EngineLow smoke solid-fuel rocket with thrust vectoring control
Operational
range
25+ km
Maximum speedMach 4
Guidance
system
High resolution imaging infrared (IIR) homing
Launch
platform
F-16, JF-17, TAI TF Kaan, TAI Hürjet

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. 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.