GÖKTUĞGÖKTUĞ is a Turkish program by TÜBİTAK-SAGE to develop four variants of air-to-air missiles that are to be launched from F-16s as well as future Turkish indigenous TAI Hürjet and TAI TF Kaan and combat aircraft from other nations such as CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder. These missiles are going to be Turkey's first indigenous air-to-air missiles.[1][2] Merlin (Bozdoğan) is short-range infrared homing missile and Peregrine (Gökdoğan) is a beyond-visual-range active radar homing missile.[3][4] Other two projects are ramjet engine powered BVR air-to-air missile and very-short-range mini air-to-air missile for helicopter.[5][6] The Merlin and Peregrine missiles were successfully flight-tested in 2018.[7] These missiles are planned to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM respectively on Turkey's crewed warplanes,[8] and are also planned to be integrated on Bayraktar AKINCI and Bayraktar Kızılelma, indigenously developed Turkish UCAVs.[9] Both Merlin and Peregrine missiles entered inventory in 30 July 2024.[10] Merlin (Bozdoğan)Peregrine (Gökdoğan)Skykhan (Gökhan)The development of an air-to-air missile powered by ramjet engine was officially announced in August 2021. The director of the TÜBİTAK SAGE Gürcan Okumuş stated the completion of more than 100 tests that carried the firing of the new ramjet engine.[5][11] References
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