Türkiye Successfully Tests Aselsan Tolun Bunker Buster Guided Munition from F-16 Fighter Jet.

Turkey’s defense company Aselsan has released a video confirming the first live air-to-surface test of its Tolun precision-guided munition from a Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet. The successful launch and impact expand Tolun’s operational role and underline Ankara’s push to reduce reliance on foreign strike weapons.

Turkish company Aselsan announced on December 27, 2025, that it had successfully completed the first live air-to-surface firing of its indigenous Tolun precision-guided munition from an F-16 multirole fighter, releasing video footage showing the weapon’s launch, midcourse guidance, and terminal impact. According to the company, the test validates Tolun’s performance beyond unmanned aerial vehicles and ground-based trials, marking a key step toward integrating the bunker-busting munition across Turkey’s manned combat aircraft fleet.
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Aselsan’s Tolun precision-guided munition seen moments after separation from a Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet during its first documented air-to-surface test, December 27, 2025. The trial marks a major milestone in Turkey’s effort to field indigenous standoff weapons capable of penetrating fortified targets with high accuracy. (Picture source: Aselsan)

The Aselsan Tolun precision-guided munition test, conducted at an undisclosed military test range, shows the Tolun separating cleanly from the F-16’s underwing pylon, deploying its aerodynamic control surfaces, and transitioning into guided flight before striking a fortified surface target with precision. Army Recognition’s analysis of the video reveals mid-flight trajectory adjustments, confirming that the munition’s integrated inertial and satellite-based navigation systems were fully engaged and performing in line with Aselsan’s stated performance envelope. This transition from controlled drop tests to an operational launch from a high-speed platform underscores the program's maturity and operational readiness.

The development of the Tolun weapon family began in 2020, initiated by Aselsan to address a critical operational gap in Turkey's ability to engage hardened targets at standoff ranges with domestically developed munitions. The objective was to create a 250 lb (113 kg) class precision-guided munition with modular integration capability across manned and unmanned platforms. The first prototype was unveiled at the IDEF 2021 defense exhibition, where Aselsan presented Tolun alongside its Smart Pneumatic Quad Rack system, known as SADAK-4T. Initial testing throughout 2022 validated aerodynamic performance and structural resilience.

By early 2023, flight release trials began using MALE and HALE-class UAVs such as the Bayraktar TB2 and AKINCI, confirming successful carriage and drop behavior. That same year, Aselsan introduced a standalone variant, the Tolun-SI, developed to function independently from the SADAK rack system, specifically to meet integration requirements for the Turkish Air Force’s F-16 Block 30 and Block 40 aircraft. Ground tests for Tolun-SI began in late 2023, followed by captive carry trials in early 2024. The weapon was fully integrated with the aircraft’s mission computers and flight control systems by mid-2025, culminating in the live-fire demonstration seen this week.

The Tolun is a compact, low-collateral, high-penetration munition designed for hardened targets, including bunkers, fortified command centers, and reinforced infrastructure. Its warhead weighs 105 kg (231 lb) and uses a specially designed steel nose and shaped-charge architecture capable of penetrating up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) of reinforced concrete before detonation. The total system weight is approximately 136 kg (300 lb), with an overall length of 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) and a body diameter of 164 millimeters (6.45 inches), making it compact enough for internal bay carriage or multiple underwing mounts.

Guidance is provided by a fully integrated ANS/KKS navigation suite that combines inertial navigation (INS) with satellite-based GNSS positioning. The system is hardened against electronic interference through a CRPA anti-jamming antenna array, with embedded software protection against GPS spoofing. The Tolun supports pre-programmed attack angles, waypoint navigation, and in-flight target reassignment, offering commanders maximum flexibility for dynamic target engagement. The CEP (circular error probable) is listed at under 10 meters (33 feet), making it accurate enough for surgical strikes in urban or restricted operational environments.

When launched from fighter jets at altitude, Tolun achieves a maximum effective range of up to 102 kilometers (55 nautical miles or 63.4 miles). From UAV platforms operating at lower altitudes, its effective range is approximately 57 kilometers (31 nautical miles or 35.4 miles). Operational altitude varies by platform, with Tolun rated for deployment from 0 to 12,200 meters (0 to 40,000 feet) from fast jets, and up to 9,100 meters (30,000 feet) from UAVs. The weapon’s folding wing assembly ensures aerodynamic glide efficiency, extending the strike envelope while reducing the launch platform’s exposure to enemy air defenses.

The munition is compatible with multiple carriage configurations. It can be mounted singly as Tolun-SI, or integrated into dual (SADAK-2T) or quad (SADAK-4T) smart racks. This flexibility allows a single aircraft to carry multiple Toluns simultaneously, enabling multi-target engagement in a single sortie and significantly improving sortie efficiency while lowering operational costs.

The Tolun family is already integrated across a broad array of Turkish aerial platforms, including the F-16, the Bayraktar TB2, the Bayraktar AKINCI, and the stealth ANKA-III UCAV. Aselsan emphasizes that the munition’s design has been combat-tested in simulated battlefield conditions and is optimized for all-weather, day-and-night operations, with low maintenance requirements and high system reliability.

Strategically, the development and deployment of Tolun reflect Turkey’s broader defense industrial autonomy doctrine. Following years of U.S. export restrictions and limitations on advanced munitions transfers, Turkish defense planners accelerated indigenous weapons development to ensure that frontline platforms like the F-16 are no longer dependent on foreign sources for precision air-to-ground munitions. The Tolun joins a growing list of Turkish-made strike systems, including the MAM-L, MAM-T, and Kuzgun series, that collectively aim to build a fully sovereign deep-strike capability across manned and unmanned fleets.

With the successful December test now concluded, sources within the Turkish Air Force suggest that initial fielding of the air-launched Tolun-SI variant is scheduled for the second half of 2026, beginning with squadrons operating along Turkey’s southeastern border and coastal regions. Meanwhile, Aselsan is actively marketing the system for export to allied air forces operating legacy F-16 fleets, especially in the Gulf, Central Asia, and North Africa, where demand for combat-ready precision munitions is growing among countries seeking alternatives to ITAR-restricted or NATO-regulated systems.

Although Aselsan has yet to formally announce the start of serial production, defense industry insiders indicate that low-rate initial production may already be underway, with full-scale manufacturing expected to follow pending additional environmental qualification and flight clearance trials. The Turkish Ministry of National Defense is expected to release further details in the coming months.

This successful demonstration marks not only a technical achievement for Aselsan but a strategic inflection point in Turkey’s ability to arm its combat aircraft with domestically built, precision-guided, hardened target killers. The Tolun program strengthens the country’s position as a self-reliant defense producer and provides a potent, flexible strike solution for both domestic and export use.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.