Serial production of missiles launched for Turkish Land Forces

Turkey's Ministry of National Defence, SSB, and Roketsan signed contracts on 3 February for the serial production of Tayfun, Sungur (displayed at DIMDEX 2022), Karaok, and TRLG-230 missiles. (Janes/Shaurav Gairola)

Turkey's Ministry of National Defence announced on its website on 3 February that it, the Defence Industry Agency (SSB), and Turkish missile house Roketsan signed contracts earlier the same day for the serial production of Tayfun, Sungur, Karaok, and Artillery Rocket Laser Guided-230 (TRLG-230) missiles for the Turkish Land Forces. In a speech at the signing ceremony, Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler said the systems “will meet the needs of our land forces and further increase the operational possibilities and capabilities of our army”.

He went on to say, “Many defence industry products, which were only a dream years ago, are now designed, produced, and developed with our own means. In addition, these local and national products can be exported to many brother and friendly countries and meet their needs. In this way, serious gains are provided to our country's economy.”

Roketsan declined to give details about the contract value.

First tested in October 2022 the Tayfun ballistic missile is Turkey's longest-range missile, having achieved a range of 560 km during a test firing in May 2023, twice the range of Turkey's previous longest-range domestically developed missile. At the end of May, SSB President İsmail Demir and Roketsan general manager Murat İkinci told CNN Türk television that Tayfun serial production had begun after that test. There is no publicly available information on the size of the Tayfun's payload.