Aselsan's new Göktan system expands Türkiye's ground-to-ground precision strike capabilities.

On 21 February 2025, the Turkish company Aselsan conducted the first live-fire test of its Göktan system in Sinop, northern Türkiye. The test demonstrated the system’s capability to launch Aselsan’s Tolun munition from a ground-based platform, achieving full accuracy in a ground-to-ground engagement scenario.
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The Göktan system supports mission planning and optimized firing sequences, as well as a 360-degree firing capability, which allows the engagement of critical targets without platform maneuvering. (Picture source: Aselsan)

The Göktan system, developed in collaboration with Delta-V, is designed to enable ground-launch adaptation of air-launched munitions. During the test, the Tolun was launched using a Delta-V rocket. Upon separation, the Tolun deployed its wings and transitioned into a guided flight mode, ultimately striking its designated target with precision. This marked the first verified instance of Tolun being adapted for ground-based operations.

The Göktan system integrates advanced command-and-control and fire control systems. It supports mission planning and optimized firing sequences and offers 360-degree firing capability, which allows the engagement of critical targets without platform maneuvering. The system also includes features such as waypoint-defined targeting, independent and centralized operation modes, multi-target engagement, and sequential firing.

The Tolun munition, developed by Aselsan with its warhead designed by Tübitak Sage, is a GPS/INS-guided munition in the 100+ kg class. It offers a range of 55 nautical miles (approximately 102 km), a maximum altitude of 40,000 feet (MSL), and an accuracy with a circular error probable (CEP) of less than 10 meters. The munition is capable of penetrating one meter of reinforced concrete from a 30-nautical mile range. It is carried on a Smart Pneumatic Quad Rack (Sadak-4T) and can engage both soft and hardened targets simultaneously.

The test also validated the Göktan’s ability to support platform-independent prevention of critical targets through its hybrid rocket motor. The system includes inclined launch capability, centralized and independent operation, waypoint navigation, multi-target engagement, and sequential firing options. These features contribute to its operational effectiveness in dynamic combat environments.

Aselsan President & CEO Ahmet Akyol commented on the development, stating: “We have reached a key milestone in equipping Tolun with ground-launch capability. As we continue to develop force-multiplier systems, this advancement enhances Türkiye’s precision-strike capabilities and expands its operational flexibility.”

The ground-launched version of Tolun is considered comparable to the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), developed jointly by the U.S. and Sweden. The GLSDB integrates the GBU-39 miniature bomb with an M26 rocket motor, whereas the Göktan employs a hybrid rocket motor expected to offer enhanced thrust control and extended range. Potential future upgrades to the Göktan could involve the integration of the Tolun IIR (Imaging Infrared) variant, which may evolve the system into a hybrid cruise missile, potentially broadening its operational applications for the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF).

The Göktan system, developed in collaboration with Delta-V, is designed to enable ground-launch adaptation of air-launched munitions, such as Aselsan's Tolun. (Picture source: Aselsan)