ASELSAN has successfully tested the ground-launched version of the TOLUN ammunition within the scope of the GÖKTAN Project. With this test, the TOLUN ammunition, which can be dropped from air platforms, gained the capability to strike from land to land. The test firing was carried out on 18 February, and the ammunition hit the specified target with pinpoint accuracy.
Turkey’s indigenous GLSDB! ASELSAN’s GÖKTAN system took the stage
TOLUN has a range of approximately 100 kilometres and weighs 250 lbs, similar to MK-81 bombs. Capable of penetrating up to 1 metre of reinforced concrete, the ammunition offers man-in-the-loop capability with the IIR seeker in addition to the GPS/INS navigation system. With this development, ASELSAN has produced a solution similar to the GLSDB (Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb) system developed jointly by the USA and Sweden.
Within the scope of the GÖKTAN system, a rocket engine was integrated into the TOLUN to provide precision strike capability against long-range targets from land. During the test, command control and fire control systems and mission planning processes were successfully operated. During the firing, the TOLUN ammunition opened its wings after separating from the hybrid rocket engine developed by Delta V and headed towards the target.
GÖKTAN was developed as a platform independent system for the destruction of critical targets. The system has the ability to fire 360-degree shots with its waypoint identification capability, centralised and independent use capability. GÖKTAN, which can fire obliquely, also offers multiple engagement and consecutive firing capabilities.
The ground-launched version of TOLUN works similar to the GBU-39 miniature bomb used in the GLSDB system. However, while the GLSDB is launched with the rocket engine of the M26 artillery rocket, the land-launched version of TOLUN uses a hybrid rocket engine. This allows the range of the ammunition to be increased and the control over the propulsion to be more effective.
It is stated that with the integration of the TOLUN IIR in the future, the ammunition can become a cost-effective hybrid mini cruise missile that can be launched from land. This integration may provide the Turkish Armed Forces with more operational flexibility, enabling precise target engagement.
