Aselsan test-fires Turkey’s first indigenous naval defence missile
TCG Beykoz during the Goksur test firing. (Photo: Aselsan)
Turkish defence firm Aselsan has conducted the first test launch of Goksur, the country’s indigenous naval point defence missile system.
Goksur is regarded as a critical component of the Steel Dome defence system, which protects the country’s naval assets against a wide variety of threats, from anti-ship and cruise missiles, through armed and unarmed UAVs, to fighter jets and helicopters.
The Goksur imaging IR (IIR) missile features a modular design, which means it can be adapted to a variety of vessels within the Turkish Navy, from corvettes to frigates.
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The missile system is available in multiple configurations, including the 100-N VLS (vertical launch system), the 100-N/StA (a turret system that can operate in standalone mode), and the100-N, (a new 20-missile configuration, which features the IIR missile).
Those configurations, according to Aselsan, allow Goksur to offer 360-degree threat elimination, including a high level of effectiveness against low-flying targets. The company has also included an AI-supported fire control system to address human error under pressure.
Goksur’s bi-directional data link function provides up- and downlink mid-course guidance, allowing it to maintain the effectiveness of its targeting through an often rapidly-changing threat environment. That enhances its potential effectiveness against fast-moving targets.
Goksur was a joint development project between Aselsan and Tubitak Sage, and its first launch was conducted from the TCG Beykoz on 16 February, off the coast of Sinop in northern Turkey.
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