Turkey’s Deputy Chief of General Staff, General Irfan Yossert, led a delegation to meet with counterparts from the Pakistan Air Force Command, emphasizing a strategic technological collaboration, notably in the realm of air-to-air missile systems.
During the diplomatic encounter, General Yossert and his team convened with Pakistan Air Force’s Chief Marshal, Zahir Ahmed Baber Sidhu, fostering substantive discussions aimed at bolstering military synergy between their nations.
The dialogue yielded a consensus to fortify their existing partnership, delineating plans for joint technological advancements and the exchange of key capabilities.
Under the purview of the missile technology exchange program, the Pakistan Air Force underscored ongoing deliberations geared towards optimizing bilateral advantages in air combat capabilities.
Both parties affirmed their commitment to elevating collaboration across multiple fronts, spanning intergovernmental cooperation, corporate partnerships, and military-to-military engagements.
The enduring defense industry collaboration between Turkey and Pakistan is underscored by notable projects such as the construction of four Milgem Corvettes for the Pakistan Navy, overseen by primary contractor Asphat A.Şr, with the recent delivery of the flagship vessel, PNS Babur.
Noteworthy milestones were achieved with the initiation of Project Goktug, marked by a pivotal agreement signed between the Ministry of National Defense for Research and Development and Tubitak Sage in December 2012, subsequently transitioned to the SSB in November 2016, focusing on fulfilling the air-to-air missile requirements of the Turkish Air Force.
The ongoing Goktug project encompasses a comprehensive plan to spearhead the design and development of an advanced air-to-air missile system, targeting two distinct configurations for F-16 PO-I aircraft: In-Visibility and Beyond-Visibility. Upon completion of the design phase, the missile will undergo rigorous qualification testing, followed by the delivery of initial batches of ammunition for operational testing, thereby concluding the project’s lifecycle.
The Bozdogan WVRAAM represents a cutting-edge In-Sight air-to-air missile, positioned to rival the American AIM-9X. Featuring a high-resolution infrared seeker head, it offers a broad field of view and robust defense against electronic warfare systems. With a range of approximately 25 kilometers and a remarkable speed of Mach 3, the agile Bozdogan boasts vector control for enhanced maneuverability and an IIR warhead capable of engaging cruise missiles. Its development, marked by rigorous flutter tests since April 2019, culminated in a significant milestone in November 2019, as a test missile successfully intercepted a high-speed unmanned aerial vehicle, heralding its potential adoption to replace AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles within the Turkish Air Force arsenal.
Introducing the Gokdogan BVRAAM, the counterpart to the US-made AIM-120 AMRAAM, heralds a highly advanced air-to-air missile system. Characterized by solid-state construction and an active radar seeker, the Gokdogan offers multifaceted capabilities, including the ability to track multiple targets, initiate firings from any direction, and dynamically adjust targeting priorities mid-flight. Moreover, its resilience against radio-electronic warfare ensures effective target acquisition, with an impressive operational range of approximately 65 kilometers, augmented by a functional data link for real-time target updates.
