Turkey's UAV-launched ballistic missile enters service

Turkey's military capabilities have received a significant boost with the official entry into service of the Roketsan UAV-launched UAV-230 missile. Announced by the Ministry of National Defense spokesman Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk, this supersonic missile enhances the firepower of the Turkish Land Forces Command.

The UAV-230 boasts a range exceeding 150 kilometers, making it capable of striking a variety of targets deep within enemy territory. These include mobile and stationary air defense systems, radar and communication installations, and command centers. The missile, weighing 225 kg and measuring 3.4 meters, carries a 42 kg warhead with options for fragmentation, armor-piercing, or thermobaric payloads.

Guided by a fire-and-forget system with GNSS-supported inertial guidance, the UAV-230 offers a countermeasure against jamming. It is primarily launched by unmanned aerial vehicles such as Bayraktar's AKINCI and AKSUNGUR, with future integration planned for other next-generation UAVs. The missile's development is based on Roketsan's TRG-230 surface-to-surface missile.

Roketsan General Manager Murat Ikinci described the UAV-230 as the "steel claws" of Turkey's UAVs, stating that it brings their effective range to the highest level, especially when paired with the CAKIR missile. This advancement is part of Turkey's broader national priority to achieve defense autonomy, aiming to domestically produce nearly all its military needs by 2030. The country is also advancing other flagship projects like the KAAN fighter jet and the Altay main battle tank, alongside developing long-range and hypersonic missile systems.

“

The IHA-230, with its 150 kilometer range, is actually the steel claws of our UAVs. Together with our CAKIR missile, it is a system that brings the effective range of our UAVs to the highest level.