Inside Türkiye’s secret defence R&D Centre: New weapons make their debut PHOTO/VIDEO

On July 30, 2025, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence’s Research and Development Centre stepped out of the shadows at the IDEF-2025 defence exhibition, revealing a wide range of advanced military technologies that underscore Türkiye’s growing defence capabilities.

Previously, the centre’s activities were largely confidential, but TRT Haber reported that the products displayed at the event offered a striking demonstration of Türkiye’s technological power and deterrence potential. The centre showcased 44 different types of systems and weapons, ranging from unmanned marine vehicles to aerial bombs, artillery pieces, and innovative firing systems.

Among the exhibited items were the MK series aerial bombs, howitzers, corner firing systems, and other advanced military equipment. Remarkably, about 80% of the systems and ammunition on display have already passed crucial qualification and certification processes, indicating they are ready for operational use. The remaining 20% have completed laboratory testing, with field trials reportedly underway, suggesting these products will soon be fully deployable.

Two of the most notable breakthroughs at the exhibition were the GAZAP (“Wrath”) and HAYALET-2 (“Ghost”) aerial bombs, which Türkiye has developed entirely on its own for the first time. These bombs represent a significant achievement in the country’s indigenous weapons production.

In addition, the Ministry’s R&D centre is actively developing an advanced air-to-air missile. While exact details about the missile’s range remain classified for strategic reasons, insiders indicate that it is designed to be competitive with — and potentially superior to — leading international models such as France’s Meteor and China’s PL series missiles.

By Tamilla Hasanova