IDEF 2025: Roketsan unveils five new advanced munitions and an SLV

Roketsan was a standout participant at the IDEF 2025 defence exhibition, held in Istanbul from 22 to 27 July, with the Turkish weapon manufacturer unveiling five new advanced munitions and a satellite launch vehicle (SLV) at the show.

The first of these was the Akata: a submarine-launched version of the Atmaca anti-ship missile currently in service with the Turkish armed forces. This will give the Turkish Navy a submarine-launched missile capability possessed by only a few countries worldwide. The Akata has a range exceeding 250 km and is armed with a high-explosive, fragmentation warhead, bolstering Turkey’s Blue Homeland defence doctrine.

Also being debuted by Roketsan was the Gökbora beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM). The Gökbora is designed to play a decisive role against enemy air targets from both manned and unmanned combat aircraft platforms. With what is described as a superior guidance system and a range exceeding 100 nautical miles (185 km), the Gökbora will become one of the air force’s most powerful offensive assets, capable of neutralising all types of airborne threats.

Roketsan additionally debuted the Tayfun Block-4 hypersonic missile at IDEF 2025. This is a hypersonic variant of the Tayfun missile, which is already the longest-range ballistic missile developed indigenously in Turkey. With the Tayfun Block-4, Turkey is achieving new long-range capabilities and setting a record in domestic defence production. Weighing over 7 tonnes, the Tayfun Block-4, equipped with a multi-purpose warhead, can destroy strategic targets such as air defence systems, command-and-control centres, military hangars and critical facilities from hundreds of kilometres away.

Also making a first public appearance was the Eren high-speed multi-purpose loitering munition. Capable of being launched from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, land vehicles and other ground-based systems as well as naval platforms, the Eren is designed for use against slow-moving aerial targets, armoured and unarmoured ground targets and personnel. With advanced guidance capabilities, an extended loitering time and a range of over 100 km, the Eren addresses a critical Turkish operational need for such a munition.

Roketsan also debuted the 300 ER: an air-launched ballistic missile system that can be integrated onto both manned and unmanned aerial platforms. Depending on release altitude and speed, the 300 ER can strike strategic targets at ranges out to more than 500 km away without exposing the launch platform to enemy air defences. The 300 ER will feature various guidance options and warhead types tailored to different target profiles. Its solid-propellant propulsion system enables rapid, high-speed and precise strikes.

Lastly Roketsan introduced the Şimşek-2 SLV. Following the planned first test launch of the Şimşek-1 SLV in 2027, Roketsan aims to advance Turkey’s position in the space arena with the Şimşek-2. Developed to place 1,500 kg-class satellites into sun-synchronous orbits above 700 km altitude, the Şimşek-2 is a critical step toward enhancing the country’s independent access to space.