A strategic step has been taken to end Turkey's dependence on foreign sources for smart munitions and missile technologies. The "Seeker Head Technology Development and Test Center," established within TÜBİTAK SAGE, commenced operations with a ceremony attended by the Minister of Science, Industry and Technology, Faruk Özlü. Minister Özlü emphasized the impact of domestic technology on the battlefield, stating, "The products developed at SAGE are currently becoming the striking force of our army beyond our borders.".
Turkey has now acquired its own test and development infrastructure for "Seeker Heads," one of the most technologically demanding components in the defense industry, which enables guided missiles to hit their targets without error. This critical facility, established on the TÜBİTAK Defense Industry Research and Development Institute (SAGE) campus, will accelerate smart munitions projects.
Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Faruk Özlü, who inaugurated the facility, emphasized that the center is not just a building, but a part of Türkiye's vision to "establish superiority" in defense technologies.
“"We are using our own ammunition in field operations."”
In his opening speech, Minister Özlü stated that they are witnessing the tangible results of the progress Türkiye has made in the defense industry in the last 14-15 years on the ground. Particularly drawing attention to the domestic production of ammunition used in cross-border operations, Özlü made the following critical assessments:
“We are carrying out very critical projects within SAGE. I can proudly say that the products resulting from these projects are currently being actively used by the Turkish Armed Forces. As you know, there are security conditions in our region and operations that our army is conducting across the border. In these operations, we mainly use our own systems and our own ammunition. This means strategic independence for a country and is an extremely gratifying situation.”
Seeker Head Simulation Receives Full Marks
During the opening ceremony, Minister Özlü was given a special simulation presentation developed by SAGE engineers on seeker head technologies. These simulations, in which the processes of how missiles detect, lock onto, and destroy their targets were tested in a virtual environment, showcased the center's capabilities.
Özlü stated that TÜBİTAK SAGE and other institutes are functioning as "National Technology Hubs" in terms of technology production, adding, "The work we see here today is proof of the task being carried out to make Türkiye superior in defense technologies.".
Goal: Longer Range, Higher Accuracy
Stating that the goals have grown with the opening of the Seeker Head Test Center, Minister Özlü outlined the future vision with the following words:
“We will not stop our work here. God willing, in the coming period, we will develop and introduce into our inventory much longer-range, much higher-capability, and more precise strike systems here. This center will be the heart of the technologies that are the eyes and brain of those missiles.”
With this facility, Turkey gains the capability to test and develop seeker heads (RF, IIR, etc.) for many strategic munitions, from the SOM cruise missile to air-to-air missile projects, using domestic resources.
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