Turkey has officially unveiled its most advanced ballistic missile system to date at the IDEF 2025 defence exhibition in Istanbul, underscoring Ankara’s growing ambitions in the field of indigenous strategic weaponry. The TAYFUN (Typhoon) Block-4 short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), developed by state-owned Roketsan, is being publicly showcased for the first time from 22 to 27 July at the Istanbul Exhibition Center. Touted as Turkey’s longest-range missile, the TAYFUN Block-4 has a declared operational range between 500 to 800 kilometers, with follow-on variants in development expected to surpass the 1,000-kilometre threshold. The missile’s precision strike capability is a key highlight, reportedly achieving accuracy within five meters of its intended target — including against naval vessels in motion — a feat that places it among the most precise SRBMs in its class. Turkish defence officials and analysts highlight the system’s resistance to electronic countermeasures and its hypersonic speed, making interception by contemporary air defence systems highly challenging.
The TAYFUN missile first came to light following a surprise test launch on 20 October 2022. The Turkish Ministry of National Defense later confirmed its existence and capability. The system’s development was led by Roketsan in coordination with the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), marking Turkey’s inaugural foray into short-range ballistic missile systems. Following its first known test, in which the missile struck a target 561 km away in 456 seconds, the TAYFUN was successfully tested again on 23 May 2023. It transitioned swiftly into mass production by the end of that month. In a February 2025 trial from Rize along the Black Sea coast, the missile demonstrated its maritime strike capability by hitting a sea-based target near Sinop with near-pinpoint accuracy. The TAYFUN Block-4 features rapid deployment and shoot-and-scoot capabilitye. The unveiling of TAYFUN Block-4 at IDEF 2025 is expected to reverberate well beyond Turkish borders. Analysts suggest its introduction may alter the strategic calculus in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond, particularly given the missile’s potential to target high-value assets and infrastructure within regional reach.
IDEF 2025, now operating under a refreshed format, continues to serve as a major platform for showcasing cutting-edge defence systems. Delegations from NATO member states, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe are in attendance, likely giving TAYFUN significant visibility among global military planners and procurement officials. The system’s presence at the show is not only a demonstration of technological maturity but also a signal of Turkey’s strategic intent. The TAYFUN Block-4 represents a noteworthy evolution in Turkey’s ballistic missile portfolio. With its combination of range, accuracy, mobility, and resilience against jamming and interception, it fills a critical gap between tactical systems and long-range strategic assets. Its deployment would provide the Turkish Armed Forces with a flexible and survivable deterrent, while also enhancing Turkey’s standing within NATO and among regional powers. Roketsan CEO said that Tayfun is in mass production, but work is ongoing to improve its range and increase production number.
Roketsan (Roket Sanayii ve Ticaret A.Ş.) is a Turkish weapons manufacturer and defense contractor based in Ankara, Turkey. Incorporated in 1988 by Turkey’s Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSİK) to establish the nation’s industrial base on missile technology, the company has quickly risen to become one of Turkey’s top 500 industrial corporations. Roketsan’s current share holders include Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (55.5%), ASELSAN (15%), MKEK (15%), Vakıflar Bankası (10%), HAVELSAN (4.5%). Roketsan is best known for its wide range of guided and unguided rockets as well as guided missiles such as Bora, Tayfun, Atmaca, Cirit, UMTAS and OMTAS. The company also produces subsystems for Stinger, Rapier and ESSM missiles and provides technology and engineering solutions for other integrated civilian and military platforms. Recent developments highlight small-diameter precision-strike bombs for unmanned aerial vehicles. Roketsan is the only Turkish company to have obtained CMMI/ DEV 3 (Capability Maturity Model Integration – for Development) approval for all its design and development processes.
