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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Turkey's New Super-Sized Ballistic Missile Reflects Global Trends
Turkish defense contractor Roketsan has rolled out a substantially larger version of its Tayfun short-range ballistic missile. In addition to the new capabilities it could offer Turkey, the Tayfun Block 4 is another indication of a broader resurgence of interest in larger and longer-ranged ballistic missiles, especially within the U.S. military. Roketsan unveiled the Tayfun Block 4 at the 2025 International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul last week. The Tayfun family first broke cover in 2022, and the weapon reportedly evolved from Rokestan's preceding Bora short-range ballistic missile. Tayfun and Bora mean typhoon and storm in Turkish, respectively. Köklerinden doğan güç: #TAYFUNBlok4 Power born from roots: #TAYFUNBlock4 — ROKETSAN (@roketsan) July 25, 2025 Tayfun Block 4 is close to 33 feet (10 meters) long, just over 3 feet (close to one meter) wide, and has a total weight of nearly eight tons (7,200 kilograms), according to Janes. Existing specifications for Tayfun (no block specified) on Roketsan's website describe a missile that has an overall length of just over 21 feet (6.5 meters), a diameter of around two feet (just over 0.6 meters), and a gross weight of some two and a half tons (2,300 kilograms). 'The Tayfun Block-4 achieves long ranges, setting another record for the Turkish defense industry,' Rokestan said in a statement, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency news outlet. It 'will be capable of destroying numerous strategic targets, such as air defense systems, command and control centers, military hangars, and critical military facilities…' Roketsan has not disclosed an official maximum range for Tayfun Block 4, but its substantially larger size has prompted speculation that it may be in the medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) category. MRBMs are categorized as ballistic missiles with maximum ranges between 620 and 1,860 miles (1,000 and 3,000 kilometers), while short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) can reach out to between 190 and 620 miles (300 and 1,000 kilometers). The stated range of Tayfun provided on Roketsan's website is greater than 174 miles (280 kilometers). Previous versions of Tayfun have reportedly demonstrated the ability to hit targets nearly 350 miles (561 kilometers) away. It is worth noting that Tayfun Block 4 has been touted as a 'hypersonic' missile, but there is nothing yet to indicate it has any characteristics associated with highly maneuverable hypersonic weapons, as you can read more about here. Ballistic missiles, especially larger, longer-ranged types, typically reach hypersonic speeds, defined as anything above Mach 5, in the latter stages of flight. Other details about the Block 4 version of Tayfun, as well as the differences between the preceding Blocks, are limited. All versions, including the new Block 4, are understood to carry large unitary blast fragmentation warheads and use go-onto-location-in-space (GOLIS) guidance, at least in their default configurations. GOLIS weapons can operate on a number of different principles, including simply flying along a preset trajectory or leveraging inertial guidance, but are all limited to engaging fixed or near-fixed targets based on data loaded into the missile before launch. Roketsan's website says the GOLIS guidance system used in the Tayfun family gives the missiles a circular error probable (CEP) of less than 33 feet (10 meters), meaning that the weapons can reliably hit within that distance of a specified aim point. Whether or not Tayfun Block 4 is confirmed to be an MRBM remains to be seen. Roketsan is also known to be developing an MRBM called Cenk (meaning war in Turkish). Cenk was publicly disclosed two months after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans to acquire ballistic missiles with maximum ranges of at least 620 miles (1,000 kilometers). It remains unclear whether Erdogan may also have been referring to an extended-range version of Tayfun at that time. Türkiye'nin en gelişmiş balistik füzesi Roketsan #CENK! — (@SavunmaSanayiST) May 12, 2023 Just last week, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir reportedly declared that Turkey was pursuing missiles with maximum ranges of around 1,242 miles (2,000 kilometers), but did not specify whether he was referring to ballistic or cruise missiles, or name any particular programs. Reports also emerged last year that Turkey is looking to begin testing ballistic missiles in Somalia, specifically because of the greater space available in the East African country to conduct longer-range launches. A variant of Tayfun with MRBM range, or close to it, could offer a hedge against any issues in the development of Cenk. At the same time, a purpose-built MRBM rather than one derived from SRBM would offer the potential for increased overall performance and greater survivability, including through a greater total payload capacity that could include the addition of new decoys and other countermeasures against anti-missile interceptors, as well as improved warhead options. A missile designed from the ground up as an MRBM would be easier to further scale up, as well. For Turkey, the development and fielding of longer-range ballistic missiles, broadly, is being driven in part by a desire to deter long-time regional competitor Greece. 'Now we have started to build our missiles. Of course, this production frightens the Greeks. When you say 'Tayfun' (Typhoon), the Greek is scared. They (Greece) say it will hit Athens. Of course, it will hit it,' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in December 2022. It would also extend Turkey's reach against other regional opponents. Turkish forces have reportedly fired Bora short-range ballistic missiles at Kurdish militants in Iraq in the past. Tayfun Block 4 could also be geared in part to potential export sales. Turkish defense contractors, with the support of the government in Ankara, have been steadily pushing to expand their global market share, in general, in recent years. However, Turkey is a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) arms control bloc, an arrangement that puts severe restrictions on the export of missiles that can carry payloads of more than 1,100 pounds to distances of more than 190 miles. Bora falls within the MTCR parameters, and Roketsan offers an export-specific version called Khan, which Indonesia signed a contract to purchase in 2022. All of this underscores the aforementioned new surge of interest globally in ballistic missiles in recent years, especially in the West. The U.S. Army may also be pursuing a two-tier conventionally-armed MRBM plan. The service has outlined a plan for a future variant or derivative of its Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) with MRBM range. There are signs it could be working toward acquiring a new purpose-built MRBM design, as well, as TWZ reported on back in April. The Army has not had an MRBM capability of any kind since it retired its nuclear-armed Pershing IIs in 1991. PrSM is also being offered for export, at least to top-tier U.S. allies and partners. Australia is set to be the first foreign operator of the missile, and just recently test-fired one in the country for the first time as part of the biennial Talisman Saber exercise, in which the U.S. military is also participating. In general, the very high terminal speeds ballistic missiles reach make them especially well-suited for employment against high-value time-sensitive targets. Missiles traveling at hypersonic velocities also present additional challenges for defenders. Those speeds give the missiles an inherent ability to burrow deeper into hardened targets, as well. The utility of ballistic missiles has been on full display on both sides of the ongoing war in Ukraine in recent years. Russia made a particular statement last year when it fired a previously unknown ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads called Oreshnik at Ukraine. There are reports that Ukraine is getting close to fielding a new domestically-developed ballistic missile of its own, if it hasn't started to do so already. Iranian ballistic missile attacks on Israel, particularly during the 12-Day War in June, have also underscored the value of these weapons and the threats they pose, even against countries with significant missile defense capabilities. Iran has used its ballistic missile arsenal in attacks on Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan, as well. Many countries are fielding new air and sea-launched ballistic missiles, especially China. Israel has made significant use of air-launched ballistic missiles against Iran, including during the conflict in June. Russia has also fired air-launched ballistic missiles at Ukraine. Whether or not Tayfun Block 4 is indeed an MRBM, it is the latest example of Turkey's push to expand and diversify its ballistic missile arsenal, which reflects worldwide trends. Contact the author: joe@
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First Post
3 days ago
- General
- First Post
Turkey unveils Gazap: Is this the most powerful non-nuclear bomb ever built?
Turkey has unveiled Gazap, its most powerful non-nuclear bomb, at the IDEF 2025 defence fair in Istanbul. Weighing 970 kilogrammes, the bomb disperses over 10 fragments per metre, creating a devastating blast radius. Compatible with F-16s and F-4s, Gazap showcases Turkey's defence ambitions read more Aircraft bomb GAZAP was unveiled at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 held in Istanbul from July 22-27. Image/X Turkey has revealed its most powerful non-nuclear aircraft bomb to date, the Gazap, at the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul. The bomb, whose name translates to Wrath in Turkish, weighs 970 kilogrammes (2,000 pounds) and represents one of the most significant leaps in Ankara's weapons technology. The unveiling took place at an event organised by KFA Fairs with backing from Turkey's Defence Industries Secretariat and the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This six-day fair, which has become one of the world's leading defence exhibitions, was spread across multiple venues — including the Istanbul Fair Center, Ataturk Airport, WOW Hotel, and Atakoy Marina. Turkey's National Defence Ministry's research and development (R&D) centre spearheaded the Gazap project. According to TRT Global and Anadolu Agency reports, Gazap is now fully certified and ready for use, following extensive design, testing and qualification processes. What makes Gazap so deadly? At its core, Gazap is a fragmentation bomb that redefines the destructive potential of conventional weapons. It disperses an extraordinary 10.16 fragment explosions per metre (3.2 feet) — far exceeding the old standard of one explosion every three metres (9.8 feet). This fragmentation density means the bomb can cover an extensive kill zone with controlled particle dispersion. According to Nilufer Kuzulu, who headed the research team behind Gazap, 'Unlike its conventional counterparts, it features a fragment-based structure with 10,000 particles. These fragments disperse within a one-kilometre radius upon detonation.' Kuzulu explained the scale of the advancement, 'Traditional bombs of this category typically disperse around three fragments per square metre, while Gazap disperses 10.16 fragments per square metre. This makes it three times more powerful than standard MK-series bombs.' The approach taken is also unique. Rather than breaking apart randomly, Gazap's structure ensures precision fragmentation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'This design mimics the effect of a defensive grenade, breaking apart into controlled fragments instead of random steel pieces,' Kuzulu added. Blast tests show massive impact Video footage from military trials illustrates the bomb's terrifying potential. Dropped from a bomber during testing, Gazap detonates with a massive flash, sending visible shockwaves across the landscape. Moments later, a dense mushroom of smoke and debris blankets an area spanning roughly 160 metres across. JUST IN: 🇹🇷 Turkey unveils 'GAZAP', its most powerful non-nuclear bomb. — BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) July 27, 2025 Officials described the effect as one of the most powerful ever seen from a non-nuclear weapon. Gazap's thermobaric properties — using fuel-air mixtures to generate extreme overpressure and heat — mean its detonation can reach up to 3,000 degrees celsius, hot enough to melt through steel and concrete. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If such heat comes into contact with human flesh, it is capable of burning all the way to the bone, highlighting why thermobaric weapons are regarded as some of the deadliest conventional arms ever created. Compatible with multiple aircraft The bomb is designed to be dropped from F-16 fighter jets and is also compatible with older F-4 Phantom aircraft — two of the mainstay platforms in the Turkish Air Force. Defence officials have indicated that future modifications could allow Gazap to be deployed from drones, expanding its operational versatility. One official reportedly said, 'The R&D center has modified the explosive and filler design. Qualification and certification processes are complete and ready for use.' Not alone: NEB-2 Ghost bunker-buster also revealed Gazap wasn't the only headline-grabber at IDEF 2025. Turkey also showcased the NEB-2 Ghost (Hayalet), another 970-kilogramme bomb, this time designed for deep penetration strikes. Officials touted NEB-2 as the 'best bunker-buster in the field.' Its ability to penetrate fortifications is remarkable — far exceeding the performance of foreign-made equivalents. An official explained: 'Normally, in nuclear power plants, US-made missiles penetrate 2.4 metres (7.8 feet) of C35 (standard concrete). NEB-2 penetrates 7 metres of C50 (three times stronger concrete than in nuclear power plants).' The NEB-2 underwent dramatic field testing. Dropped on an island, it bored 90 metres (295 feet) into the ground, unleashing enough energy to trigger landslides, gas leaks, and rock destruction across a 160-metre-wide area. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What makes NEB-2 even more formidable is its delayed explosion mechanism. Typically, such bombs detonate within 25 milliseconds, but for NEB-2, engineers extended the delay to 240 milliseconds, allowing the bomb to burrow deeper before exploding. 'The explosion, which normally takes 25 ms (milliseconds), was timed to 240 ms, making it more destructive,' an official said. A weapon just short of nuclear capability The Gazap bomb is now considered one of the world's most powerful conventional weapons — only a step below nuclear arms in destructive potential. Its thermobaric nature makes it especially lethal, producing immense overpressure that crushes structures and vaporises everything in its blast radius. Thermobaric bombs have a dark history, first being conceptualised by the Nazis during World War II, later refined and used by the US in Vietnam, and, more recently, deployed by Russia in Ukraine, reported The Irish Sun. While there is controversy surrounding their humanitarian impact, international law does not explicitly ban the use of thermobaric weapons on enemy positions — provided they are not directed at civilians. The development of Gazap and NEB-2 reflects Turkey's broader effort to establish itself as a leader in advanced weapons manufacturing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD By investing heavily in domestic R&D, Ankara has been working to reduce reliance on foreign defence suppliers. With inputs from agencies
The Sun
4 days ago
- Science
- The Sun
Leaked vid shows terrifying power of new one-tonne vacuum bomb ‘the GAZAP'…one of the world's most destructive non-nukes
A LEAKED video has emerged showing the catastrophic power of the new one-tonne vacuum bomb developed by Turkey. Touted as one of the world's most destructive non-nuclear bombs, the GAZAP can cause utter devastation when dropped on enemy targets. 7 7 7 7 And a glimpse of the devastation was caught in a short clip, which showed the mighty bomb's terrifying effects. The footage shows the GAZAP being dropped on the ground from a bomber during a military test. The bomb explodes and creates a huge flash, sending shockwaves that are visible to the naked eye. A massive cloud of smoke and dust follows the explosion, which covered an area of almost 160metres wide, according to Turkish military bosses. The bomb is said to be one of the most powerful conventional weapons, just one step below nukes. The GAZAP, which means "Wrath" in Turkish, was unveiled at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul. It is a 2,000-pound MK84 aircraft bomb which can be dropped from bombers as well as fighter jets, including F-4s and F-16s. Nilufer Kuzulu, who led the research to develop the bomb, said: "Unlike its conventional counterparts, it features a fragment-based structure with 10,000 particles. "These fragments disperse within a one-kilometre radius upon detonation." She noted that traditional bombs of this category typically disperse around three fragments per square meter, while GAZAP disperses 10.16 fragments per square meter. Moment cache of Putin's thermobaric 'vacuum bombs' is BLOWN UP in 3,000C blast "This makes it three times more powerful than standard MK-series bombs," Kuzulu said. "This design mimics the effect of a defensive grenade, breaking apart into controlled fragments instead of random steel pieces," she added. The GAZAP bomb can be deployed from Turkish F-16 and F-4 fighter jets and can be developed further to be deployed from drones. Thermobaric weapons were originally developed by the Nazis in World War Two but first used by the US in Vietnam. They can produce more heat and overpressure than conventional bombs by exploding a vapour in the blast zone. 7 7 The deadly cloud produced after the explosion can reach temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees Celsius - and can burn through steel and concrete. And if it comes into contact with human flesh, it can melt through right down to the bone. Russia has a chilling past with thermobaric bombs and has reportedly dropped at least a few so far during its war with Ukraine. While the use of the weapon can be extremely dangerous, it is not banned by the International arms control organisations to use against enemy positions in active warzones. Deploying such bombs is not a breach of international law as long as civilians aren't being targeted with them. Putin's wreakes havoc with vacuum bomb in Ukraine Throughout the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been widely accused of using thermobaric weapons, commonly known as "vacuum bombs". Within days of the invasion, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, accused Russia of deploying a vacuum bomb. Around the same time, visual evidence of TOS-1A - a Soviet-era launcher - being moved into Ukraine began circulating on social media. During the brutal siege of Mariupol and the intense fighting in the Donbas region, numerous reports and videos surfaced allegedly showing the impact of thermobaric weapons. Putin was also accused of dropping a vacuum bomb in response to a Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region. Earlier this year, a cache of Russian thermobaric bombs was blown up in a huge explosion after an overnight Ukraine strike. Incredible footage shows a huge fireworks-like inferno reaching high up in the sky after the precision attack. Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed the large pile of thermobaric munitions that was stored inside a warehouse in the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk region. Ukraine's General Staff said in a statement: "On the night of February 28, the Defense Forces of Ukraine destroyed a thermobaric ammunition storage facility of the Russian invaders in the temporarily occupied territory of the Donetsk region, in the Selidove district. "In addition, three more important facilities of the Russian invaders were damaged. In particular, the Ilsk Oil Refinery, which is involved in supplying the Russian occupation army." 7
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Public Security D-G, Turkish counterpart mull ways to enhance cooperation
QNA Istanbul Director-General of Public Security HE Major-General Mohammed Jassim Al Sulaiti met with Director-General of the National Police of Turkiye Mahmut Demirtas, on the sidelines of the Ministry of Interior delegation's participation in the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025), hosted in Istanbul from July 22 to 27. The meeting discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in security and prospects for developing joint security work between the two sides. The delegation also toured several pavilions of participating countries and international companies, where they were briefed on the latest advanced defence technologies and systems and key innovations in the military and security industries. IDEF is considered one of the world's leading events in the defence industry sector, with broad participation from various countries, making it a strategic platform for exchanging expertise and exploring cooperation opportunities.
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE's Calidus concludes successful participation at IDEF 2025 in Istanbul
27 July 2025 20:02 ISTANBUL (WAM)UAE-based Calidus Holding Group has concluded its successful participation in the 17th edition of the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025), held at the Istanbul Expo Centre from July 22 to 27, as part of the UAE National Pavilion, supervised by Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement (Tawazun).The Calidus stand witnessed strong engagement from senior officials, military leaders, and official delegations from around the world, who praised the advanced capabilities of the UAE's defence industry and commended Calidus products for their reliability, precision, and competitiveness on regional and global the exhibition, Calidus signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding, including an MoU with Türkiye's Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) to support supply chain collaboration and industrial localisation programmes, as well as an MoU with CTech to explore joint satellite communications and data link projects for military Director and CEO of Calidus Holding Group, Dr. Khalifa Murad Al Blooshi, stated that the participation significantly boosted the company's international presence and showcased the technological innovations of the UAE's defence sector, particularly in AI-driven and next-generation defence solutions, all designed and manufactured exhibited a range of advanced solutions, including the MATV armoured combat support vehicle integrated with the Al Hedaa missile launcher, six variants of the Al Hedaa system, models of the B-250 light attack and B-250T advanced trainer aircraft, a mock-up of the CLS military vehicle production facility, and cutting-edge electro-optical and infrared company also presented its locally manufactured military chassis, built for high-load and extreme-condition performance. The company emphasised that its IDEF 2025 participation aligns with its broader vision to strengthen the UAE's role as a key player in the global defence landscape through technology localisation, strategic autonomy, and regional and international market expansion.
