Turkish MoD has provided additional information regarding ROKETSAN’s GÖKBORA ramjet-powered BVRAAM, giving March 2031 as the qualification date for F-16s.
Turkish MoD’s 2025 activity report includes new information regarding the introduction of ROKETSAN’s GÖKBORA solid fuel ramjet-powered BVRAAM on F-16 fighters.
The MoD statement on the new BVRAAM from ROKETSAN gives the qualification date for F-16 fighters as March 2031, roughly five years from now.
GÖKBORA is a solid fuel ramjet-powered BVRAAM unveiled by ROKETSAN during IDEF2025 defence exhibition as an internal bay-friendly missile for stealth aircraft with a range of 185+ km.
GÖKBORA, while similar to Meteor BVRAAM also to be acquired by the Turkish Air Force for the Eurofighter fleet, drawing from new developments on air-to-air missile technologies as a newer missile.
To easily fit inside the internal bays of stealth combat aircraft, GÖKBORA uses folding fins, which reduce the cross-sectional footprint during carriage.
For guidance, GÖKBORA will use the AGRAS 3101/AA AESA RF seeker, being developed by ASELSAN. The midcourse guidance includes datalink and GNSS navigation as well as trajectory optimisation to conserve energy.
GÖKBORA, in additiıon to stealth aircraft, is planned to be integrated on F-16s and potentially AKINCI UCAV.
Alongside GÖKBORA, TÜBİTAK SAGE is continuing the work on GÖKHAN liquid fuel ramjet BVRAAM, which will be revised for even longer ranges compared to the first iteration, according to a deal signed in 2025. GÖKHAN is also to be used on the KAAN fighter as the integration work on the internal bays is ongoing.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
