Breaking News: Türkiye conducts first test of SOM cruise missile powered by new indigenous engine
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On June 6, 2025, Roketsan’s SOM cruise missile program achieved a new strategic milestone as the air-launched precision strike missile successfully hit its target during a test firing with the domestically developed KTJ-3200 turbojet engine. This test marks the full localization of the missile’s propulsion system, reducing foreign dependency in one of Türkiye’s most critical long-range strike assets. The breakthrough is a significant development for the Turkish defense industry, aligning with the national objective of strategic autonomy. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
With the KTJ-3200-powered SOM, Türkiye not only strengthens its deterrence posture but also enhances its export competitiveness in the global precision strike missile market (Picture source: Roketsan)
Developed by Roketsan under the supervision of Türkiye’s Defense Industry Agency, the SOM (Stand-Off Missile) is a modular air-to-surface cruise missile designed to engage high-value land and sea targets at standoff ranges exceeding 250 kilometers. The missile measures approximately four meters in length, weighs about 600 kg, and carries a 230 kg high-explosive warhead. The recent test employed the KTJ-3200 turbojet engine produced by Kale Arge, replacing the formerly used French TR-40 engine. The KTJ-3200 delivers reliable propulsion while supporting advanced flight profiles such as low-altitude penetration and terrain-following, which enhances the survivability of the missile in contested environments.
The development of the SOM began in 2006 under TÜBİTAK SAGE to meet the operational needs of the Turkish Air Force for an indigenous cruise missile. Over the years, the missile family evolved into a versatile system capable of air-launched and surface-launched configurations, supported by a modular architecture that allows for the integration of various seeker and guidance systems. The KTJ-3200 engine, whose development was initiated in 2013 by Kale Arge in collaboration with TÜBİTAK SAGE and Roketsan, represents a decade-long national effort to eliminate dependency on foreign propulsion solutions. Operationally, SOM variants have already entered Turkish service aboard platforms such as the F-4E/2020 and F-16 fighter aircraft, while integration with the future TF-X fighter is also anticipated.
Compared to similar Western systems such as the American AGM-158 JASSM or European Storm Shadow/SCALP EG, the SOM now offers the strategic advantage of being free from export restrictions linked to propulsion components. Historically, many cruise missile programs were slowed or limited in their export potential due to foreign engine dependencies. The nationalization of SOM’s engine brings Türkiye’s program closer to fully sovereign design and production, much like Russia’s Kalibr or China’s CJ-10 programs, which prioritized domestic propulsion development.
The strategic implications of this milestone extend beyond the technical realm. With the KTJ-3200-powered SOM, Türkiye not only strengthens its deterrence posture but also enhances its export competitiveness in the global precision strike missile market. The ability to offer a fully domestic solution circumvents geopolitical constraints and aligns with Türkiye’s broader ambition of becoming a leading defense exporter. In the current context of shifting alliances and increasing interest in independent strike capabilities among emerging powers, the SOM with the KTJ-3200 fills a critical niche.
This latest test firing underscores Türkiye’s growing capability to independently design, produce, and field high-tech weapon systems. By achieving engine localization for one of its flagship strike missiles, the country not only enhances its military autonomy but also signals to potential partners that it is ready to compete in the strategic weapons market with minimal reliance on foreign suppliers. The message is clear: Türkiye is determined to pursue a future where its defense capabilities are designed and powered at home.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On June 6, 2025, Roketsan’s SOM cruise missile program achieved a new strategic milestone as the air-launched precision strike missile successfully hit its target during a test firing with the domestically developed KTJ-3200 turbojet engine. This test marks the full localization of the missile’s propulsion system, reducing foreign dependency in one of Türkiye’s most critical long-range strike assets. The breakthrough is a significant development for the Turkish defense industry, aligning with the national objective of strategic autonomy.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
With the KTJ-3200-powered SOM, Türkiye not only strengthens its deterrence posture but also enhances its export competitiveness in the global precision strike missile market (Picture source: Roketsan)
Developed by Roketsan under the supervision of Türkiye’s Defense Industry Agency, the SOM (Stand-Off Missile) is a modular air-to-surface cruise missile designed to engage high-value land and sea targets at standoff ranges exceeding 250 kilometers. The missile measures approximately four meters in length, weighs about 600 kg, and carries a 230 kg high-explosive warhead. The recent test employed the KTJ-3200 turbojet engine produced by Kale Arge, replacing the formerly used French TR-40 engine. The KTJ-3200 delivers reliable propulsion while supporting advanced flight profiles such as low-altitude penetration and terrain-following, which enhances the survivability of the missile in contested environments.
The development of the SOM began in 2006 under TÜBİTAK SAGE to meet the operational needs of the Turkish Air Force for an indigenous cruise missile. Over the years, the missile family evolved into a versatile system capable of air-launched and surface-launched configurations, supported by a modular architecture that allows for the integration of various seeker and guidance systems. The KTJ-3200 engine, whose development was initiated in 2013 by Kale Arge in collaboration with TÜBİTAK SAGE and Roketsan, represents a decade-long national effort to eliminate dependency on foreign propulsion solutions. Operationally, SOM variants have already entered Turkish service aboard platforms such as the F-4E/2020 and F-16 fighter aircraft, while integration with the future TF-X fighter is also anticipated.
Compared to similar Western systems such as the American AGM-158 JASSM or European Storm Shadow/SCALP EG, the SOM now offers the strategic advantage of being free from export restrictions linked to propulsion components. Historically, many cruise missile programs were slowed or limited in their export potential due to foreign engine dependencies. The nationalization of SOM’s engine brings Türkiye’s program closer to fully sovereign design and production, much like Russia’s Kalibr or China’s CJ-10 programs, which prioritized domestic propulsion development.
The strategic implications of this milestone extend beyond the technical realm. With the KTJ-3200-powered SOM, Türkiye not only strengthens its deterrence posture but also enhances its export competitiveness in the global precision strike missile market. The ability to offer a fully domestic solution circumvents geopolitical constraints and aligns with Türkiye’s broader ambition of becoming a leading defense exporter. In the current context of shifting alliances and increasing interest in independent strike capabilities among emerging powers, the SOM with the KTJ-3200 fills a critical niche.
This latest test firing underscores Türkiye’s growing capability to independently design, produce, and field high-tech weapon systems. By achieving engine localization for one of its flagship strike missiles, the country not only enhances its military autonomy but also signals to potential partners that it is ready to compete in the strategic weapons market with minimal reliance on foreign suppliers. The message is clear: Türkiye is determined to pursue a future where its defense capabilities are designed and powered at home.
