Azerbaijan’s Su-25 aircraft successfully tests Türkiye's SOM ŞAHİN cruise missile Photo

An Azerbaijani Su-25 attack aircraft has successfully conducted a live-fire test of the SOM ŞAHİN cruise missile, developed by Türkiye’s defence industry.

The missile test was carried out in Türkiye in 2024 using an Azerbaijani Su-25 fitted with a specially developed underwing suspension and autonomous firing system (UBAS) produced by TÜBİTAK SAGE, Caliber.Az reports, citing Türkiye's defense industry news platform.

Türkiye’den Kardeş Ülkeye Seyir Füzesi! 🇹🇷🇦🇿

Azerbaycan’a ait Su-25 savaş uçağı, Türk savunma sanayii tarafından geliştirilen SOM ŞAHİN Seyir Füzesi ile atış testini başarıyla tamamladı.

Konuyla ilgili olarak TÜBİTAK tarafından yapılan açıklamada, “Azerbaycan Su-25 uçağından… pic.twitter.com/wRTeR35aHW

— SavunmaSanayiST.com (@SavunmaSanayiST) April 6, 2025

In a statement, Türkiye’s Scientific and Technological Research Council (TÜBİTAK) confirmed the successful launch of the SOM-B1 variant from the Azerbaijani Su-25 LAÇİN aircraft, noting that the missile hit a long-range target with precision. The SOM ŞAHİN configuration is tailored to Azerbaijani requirements and represents the final stage of a weapons procurement process that began in 2018.

SOM, developed by TÜBİTAK-SAGE and serially produced by Turkish defence contractor Roketsan, is Türkiye’s first air-launched cruise missile. Previous deliveries to Azerbaijan were delayed due to an engine export embargo, but the recent integration of Türkiye’s domestically produced Kale KTJ-3200 turbojet engine has now enabled exports.

As part of the LAÇİN project, the Azerbaijani Su-25 fleet has undergone modernisation by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), paving the way for the integration of Turkish-developed munitions such as the SOM ŞAHİN.

Azerbaijan is expected to deploy the SOM ŞAHİN not only on Su-25 aircraft but also on AKINCI combat drones. Integration firing tests from the AKINCI UAV platform are anticipated in the near future.

The SOM cruise missile weighs approximately 600kg, including a 230kg warhead, and measures around four metres in length. It has an operational range exceeding 250 kilometres.

By Aghakazim Guliyev