Türkiye has successfully completed the preliminary design phase of its indigenous GÖKHAN ramjet-powered air-to-air missile, a major step forward in the country’s ambition to develop a domestically produced long-range missile system capable of engaging aerial threats beyond visual range. This advancement comes as part of the “National Ramjet Powered Air-to-Air Missile (GÖKHAN) Development Project,” initiated under a contract signed between the Ministry of National Defense and TÜBİTAK SAGE on May 21, 2021.
The GÖKHAN project aims to equip the Turkish Air Force with a new generation of air-to-air missiles designed to establish air superiority in contested environments. The program focuses on the creation of a missile system with ramjet propulsion, which enables sustained high-speed flight over extended ranges. While official specifications have not been disclosed, early estimates suggest that GÖKHAN will be capable of striking targets at distances exceeding 100 km.
With the completion of both the Conceptual Design Phase and the Preliminary Design Phase, the project has now entered the Ground Tests Phase. This stage will involve detailed subsystem evaluations, system-level verifications, and the start of flight and firing tests. These tests are expected to validate the missile’s propulsion behavior, guidance system performance, structural integrity, and aerodynamic characteristics under real-world conditions.
GÖKHAN’s propulsion is based on a ramjet engine, which uses atmospheric oxygen for combustion during flight. This gives the missile a significant advantage over conventional solid-fueled systems, allowing it to maintain speed throughout its engagement envelope. Ramjet technology increases the missile’s no-escape zone and terminal maneuvering capability, making it especially effective against fast-moving and maneuvering airborne targets at long distances.