Munitions

BOZDOĞAN air-to-air missile

Also known as
  • BOZDOĞAN
  • Bozdogan
  • BOZDOĞAN WVR
  • GÖKTUĞ BOZDOĞAN

BOZDOĞAN is TÜBİTAK SAGE's within-visual-range member of Turkey's GÖKTUĞ air-to-air missile family. Public sources describe it as the infrared-guided counterpart to the GÖKDOĞAN beyond-visual-range missile, with official SAGE specifications listing a 25+ km range, high-resolution imaging infrared seeker, thrust-vector-controlled solid-propellant rocket motor, LAU-129 compatibility, and Turkish F-16 firing and integration tests.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Turkey
Type
Within-visual-range air-to-air missile
Service note
2020s-present
Designer
TÜBİTAK SAGE
Designed
2010s-2020s

Specifications

Range
25+ km
Guidance
High-resolution imaging infrared seeker
Propulsion
High-thrust reduced-smoke solid-propellant rocket engine with thrust-vector control
Speed
Mach 4+
Weight
Approximately 140 kg
Length
3.3 m
Diameter
160 mm
Interface
MIL-STD-1553 / MIL-STD-1760 and LAU-129 compatible
Warhead
Pressure and particle-effect warhead with electronic arming and firing system
Countermeasures
Advanced counter-countermeasure capability
Role
Within-visual-range air-to-air missile
Variants

BOZDOĞAN and GÖKDOĞAN are the within-visual-range and beyond-visual-range missile configurations developed under Turkey's GÖKTUĞ air-to-air missile project.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
GÖKDOĞAN air-to-air missile, Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, MunitionsGÖKDOĞAN air-to-air missileBeyond-visual-range GÖKTUĞ family member

Anadolu Agency describes BOZDOĞAN and GÖKDOĞAN as the two air-to-air missile configurations in the GÖKTUĞ project, with BOZDOĞAN covering the within-visual-range role and GÖKDOĞAN the beyond-visual-range role.

Sources: Bozdoğan ve Gökdoğan füzelerinin tasarım doğrulama testleri tamamlandı

Firing Aircraft

Public test reporting documents BOZDOĞAN firings from Turkish F-16 aircraft during the missile's air-launch and live-fire test program.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
F-16 Fighting Falcon, Multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsF-16 Fighting FalconMultirole fighter aircraft

Anadolu Agency reported a BOZDOĞAN firing from an F-16 against a Şimşek target aircraft in 2021, and later reporting documented F-16 live-fire testing and integration for BOZDOĞAN and GÖKDOĞAN.

Sources: Türkiye'nin ilk görüş içi havadan havaya füzesi Bozdoğan'ın 2022'de TSK envanterine girmesi hedefleniyor, Turkey Test Fires Gökdoğan and Bozdoğan Air-to-Air Missiles, Türkiye completes live-warhead tests on Gokdogan and Bozdogan missiles

Timeline

BOZDOĞAN air-to-air missile Key Events

  1. GÖKTUĞ project contract

    Anadolu Agency reported that the original GÖKTUĞ project contract was signed on December 14, 2012 to address Turkish Air Force air-to-air missile requirements.

    Sources: Bozdoğan ve Gökdoğan füzelerinin tasarım doğrulama testleri tamamlandı

  2. F-16 air-launch test

    Anadolu Agency reported that BOZDOĞAN was fired from an F-16 during an April 2021 air-to-air test against a Şimşek target aircraft.

    Sources: Türkiye'nin ilk görüş içi havadan havaya füzesi Bozdoğan'ın 2022'de TSK envanterine girmesi hedefleniyor

  3. Low-scale production agreement

    TurDef reported that SSB secured the GÖKTUĞ F-16 PO-III integration and low-scale initial-production project, covering 25 BOZDOĞAN missiles, 25 GÖKDOĞAN missiles, and 14 launchers for first delivery in 2025.

    Sources: Göktuğ Production Agreement Signed

  4. GÖKTUĞ design verification

    Anadolu Agency reported that design-verification tests for the BOZDOĞAN and GÖKDOĞAN missiles had been completed under the GÖKTUĞ project.

    Sources: Bozdoğan ve Gökdoğan füzelerinin tasarım doğrulama testleri tamamlandı

  5. F-16 live-fire test

    The Aviationist reported that Turkey conducted live-fire tests of GÖKDOĞAN and BOZDOĞAN from an F-16 on October 19, 2025, with both missiles hitting pilotless target drones.

    Sources: Turkey Test Fires Gökdoğan and Bozdoğan Air-to-Air Missiles

  6. Live-warhead validation

    Türkiye Today reported that BOZDOĞAN and GÖKDOĞAN completed live-warhead validation testing and that both missiles had been integrated with Turkish F-16 fighter jets.

    Sources: Türkiye completes live-warhead tests on Gokdogan and Bozdogan missiles

Media
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Sources