GÖKTUĞ

GÖKTUĞ (combination of GÖK (sky) and TUĞ, Tug banner) is a Turkish program started to be developed in 2013 by TÜBİTAK-SAGE to develop four variants of air-to-air missiles that are to be launched from F-16s as well as future Turkish indigenous TAI Hürjet and TAI TF Kaan and combat aircraft from other nations such as CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder. The program intends to produce Turkey's first indigenous air-to-air missiles. Bozdoğan (Merlin) is short-range infrared homing missile and Gökdoğan (Peregrine) is a beyond-visual-range active radar homing missile. Other projects include Gökhan, a ramjet-powered beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile and a very-short-range miniature air-to-air missile for helicopters.

The Merlin and Peregrine missiles were successfully flight-tested in 2018. These missiles are planned to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM, respectively, on Turkey's crewed warplanes, and are planned to be integrated on Bayraktar AKINCI and Bayraktar Kızılelma, indigenously developed Turkish UCAVs. It was announced that preparations for mass production have begun in 2022. Both Merlin and Peregrine missiles entered inventory in 30 July 2024.

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