Turkey has completed the first live air-to-ground firing of the Aselsan-developed Tolun precision-guided munition from an F-16 multirole fighter, confirming the weapon’s operational maturity. Video released by Aselsan shows the munition separating from the aircraft, transitioning into guided flight, and striking a fortified target with high accuracy, highlighting a key advancement in Turkey’s indigenous weapons portfolio.
The test, conducted at an undisclosed military range, validates Tolun’s inertial and satellite-based navigation systems during a high-speed launch scenario. Analysts note that midcourse trajectory corrections observed in the footage indicate full functionality of the guidance and control architecture, moving the program from developmental trials toward operational deployment within the Turkish Air Force.
Development of the Tolun munition began in 2020, with the goal of producing a domestically designed weapon capable of defeating hardened structures while minimizing collateral damage. After its debut at IDEF 2021, the program progressed through extensive ground and aerial testing, including releases from MALE and HALE unmanned platforms. In 2023, Aselsan introduced the Tolun-SI variant to support direct integration on F-16 Block 30 and Block 40 aircraft, with captive carry and systems integration completed by mid-2025.
Tolun is designed as a compact, high-penetration munition featuring a 105-kg warhead engineered to breach reinforced concrete targets. Measuring approximately 1.8 meters in length and weighing around 136 kg, the weapon supports flexible carriage options and multi-platform integration. The successful F-16 live-fire test positions Tolun as a key component of Turkey’s future precision strike capability and its broader defense self-sufficiency strategy.
