Turkey successfully tests its new GÖKSUR air defense system over the Black Sea

Turkey has successfully conducted tests of its new GÖKSUR air defense system along the Black Sea coast, marking a major milestone in the country’s defense technology development. The GÖKSUR IIR missile, equipped with an infrared seeker, successfully intercepted a target at a distance of more than 11 kilometers, confirming its operational precision and reliability. The news was reported by G.Business, citing Defence Blog.

The test involved a vertical launch from the GÖKSUR 100-N system, which was fully designed and produced by the Turkish defense company ASELSAN. According to the report, this was the first successful interception of a maritime target by a missile entirely developed and manufactured in Turkey. During the mid-flight phase, the missile was guided via a secure data link, and in the final phase, it autonomously detected, tracked, and destroyed its target.

The GÖKSUR series is designed to provide close-in defense for both naval and land platforms. It can engage anti-ship and cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and fighter aircraft. The ability to counter low-flying, high-speed threats over water is considered particularly crucial, as such missiles are often intended to evade radar detection and penetrate shipboard defense systems.

“The system’s capability to neutralize low-altitude, high-speed threats above the sea surface plays a key role in the protection of naval assets,” the article emphasized.

GÖKSUR integrates advanced target acquisition, autonomous navigation, and vertical-launch technology, significantly improving the survivability of Turkish naval platforms and expanding the nation’s multi-layered defense architecture. The successful test reflects Turkey’s growing technological competence and its progress toward defense independence through the domestic development of advanced missile and radar systems.

In parallel, several European countries, including Switzerland, have announced plans to acquire new defense technologies aimed at protecting military infrastructure and assets from drone and missile threats amid rising security concerns across Europe.

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