Turkey Successfully Carries Out The Second Test-Fire of It’s First Short Range Ballistic Missile Named TAYFUN
TAYFUN, Turkey’s first Short Range Ballistic Missile, was successfully tested for the second time on Tuesday, May 23 at 06:44 (GMT+3) from Rize-Artvin Airport by ROKETSAN, Turkey’s ammunition, missile, and rocket production center. Turkish Defense Industry Agency President İsmail Demir posted footage of the Tayfun missile test on his social media account. Demir stated in his message, “We successfully carried out the new test fire of our Tayfun missile. I congratulate everyone who contributed, especially ROKETSAN.” Although the official authorities and the company in question did not reveal test data such as how many kilometers the Tayfun traveled, it was learned that a “900 km” NOTAM was issued for the missile’s test fire.
On October 18, 2022, Roketsan conducted the first test-fire of the TAYFUN Ballistic Missile from Rize. The Tayfun missile, launched from the BMC 525-44 8X8 carrier vehicle, hit its target 561 kilometers away, reaching 4.428 km/h in 458 seconds. The Turkish Defense Industry Executive Committee approved to mass-produce 25 different projects, including the Tayfun Short Range Ballistic Missile, following the successful test-fire. Any information concerning the Tayfun missile, which Roketsan has been developing in secret for some time with knowledge acquired from the development of the BORA tactical ballistic missile, is currently unavailable. Tayfun, Turkey’s longest-range missile system to date, is scheduled to enter the Turkish Land Forces Command’s inventory in the near future after a few more tests.
Previously, the Turkish Armed Forces, which have had Tactical Ballistic Missile capability since the 1990s, lacked an SRBM-class ballistic missile. Turkey will attain a vital deterrent capability in the region, matching Iran’s capabilities.
In addition to the TAYFUN Short Range Ballistic Missile, Turkey is developing the CENK ballistic missile, which will have a far longer range. The Cenk missile, like the Tayfun, was developed in secret and was initially unveiled by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2022. Demir released the first images of the Roketsan missile to the public last week. CENK, which will be Turkey’s first Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM), is expected to have a range of 1000+ kilometers. It is estimated that the first test of Roketsan’s CENK Ballistic Missile will be carried out this year.