Turkey’s ROKETSAN Fires ÇAKIR Cruise Missile From Ground Platforms, Hits Land and Sea Targets

Turkish manufacturer ROKETSAN passed a notable milestone with its indigenously developed ÇAKIR cruise missile on August 27, 2026, firing it from ground-based platforms for the first time and successfully striking both a land and a maritime target across a two-launch test campaign.

At a Glance

ROKETSAN ran a two-day firing campaign with ÇAKIR on August 27, 2026.
One launch destroyed a land target, the other a maritime target.
The missile was fired from ground vehicles for the first time, having previously only launched from unmanned aircraft.
A new-generation Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker improved target discrimination accuracy.
A new propulsion system validated an extended range in the same campaign.

Background

ÇAKIR is ROKETSAN’s low-observable, multi-platform cruise missile family, previously tested from Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı unmanned aerial vehicles before entering serial production in 2024. The system has also been showcased at international exhibitions such as DIMDEX to build export interest. The August 27 campaign matters because it proves ÇAKIR’s compatibility with ground-based launch platforms, meaning the missile can now be brought into range from land as well as from the air.

The new IIR seeker used in the tests improves the missile’s ability to discriminate targets in cluttered terrain and over sea surfaces, while the new propulsion system reportedly delivers performance beyond the previously stated range. ÇAKIR combines a low radar cross-section, GPS/INS-aided cruise guidance, and an electro-optical/IIR terminal seeker, making it usable against both moving and stationary targets. The ground-launch test also demonstrates that the missile’s post-launch control and trajectory-acquisition algorithms have been successfully adapted to a different boost-climb profile than the air-launched variant.

Regional Impact

A cruise missile that can be fired from ground platforms gives operators an added option for both coastal defense and deep-strike missions without depending on an aircraft. Being able to fire the same munition from air, land and eventually naval platforms could simplify logistics and training across a single missile family. The added platform flexibility also strengthens ÇAKIR’s export appeal, since it lets budget-conscious buyers field air, land and sea strike options through a single supply chain.

FAQ

What platforms fired ÇAKIR before? Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı unmanned aerial vehicles.

What changed in this test? The missile was launched from a ground-based platform for the first time and struck both a land and a sea target in the same campaign.

What does the new seeker add? Imaging Infrared (IIR) technology improves target discrimination and terminal accuracy over complex terrain or sea surfaces.

When did ÇAKIR enter mass production? In 2024.