Turkish defence major ROKETSAN is preparing to undertake local production through AZROKSAN, its Azerbaijan-based subsidiary, as part of its plan to transfer technological and engineering expertise to help the development of local production capabilities in Azerbaijan, says Murat İkinci, company CEO.
“As ROKETSAN, we do not view our support for Azerbaijan’s defence solely from the perspective of product supply,” Ikinci says. By undertaking local production in the country through AZROKSAN, ROKETSAN is taking the cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan beyond product supply and extending it to production, technology transfer, and joint development, he adds.
How can ROKETSAN help Azerbaijan build up its indigenous defence industry?
We have witnessed significant momentum in the development of the defence industry of our friendly and brotherly country, Azerbaijan, in recent years. In particular, the successful demonstration of the capabilities of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on the battlefield during the glorious victory in Karabakh was a tangible demonstration of this progress. Today, Azerbaijan is moving forward with a strong and increasingly capable defence industry, developing its technological capabilities and focusing on increasing its share of indigenous production. We are closely following Azerbaijan’s progress and the potential it possesses.
A wide range of rocket, missile, and munition systems developed by ROKETSAN further strengthen the capabilities of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. We are proud that the systems we have introduced into the inventory of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces also played an effective role in victory in the Karabakh victory.
As ROKETSAN, we will continue to contribute to strengthening Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, and the Azerbaijani defence industry with our advanced technological products, today and tomorrow.
Azerbaijan and countries in the region are looking to enhance their air defence capabilities. How can ROKETSAN make a difference in this area?
Air defence is no longer a choice but a strategic imperative for national security. The conflicts in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine War have clearly demonstrated that protecting airspace and critical infrastructure is one of the most decisive elements of modern warfare. In an environment where threats range from ballistic and cruise missiles to UAVs and fighter aircraft, it is not possible to counter all threats with a single defence system. Therefore, nations need integrated, multi-layered air and missile defence architectures capable of operating across different range and altitude layers.
As ROKETSAN, we have a comprehensive family of air defence products developed to address this need for Türkiye, as well as friendly and allied nations. We have inducted HİSAR-A for low-altitude, HİSAR-O for medium-altitude, and SİPER for long-range and high-altitude air defence into active inventory. Our SUNGUR Air Defence Missile System, meanwhile, provides short-range air defence for mobile or stationary troops and facilities both on the battlefield and in rear areas.
In addition, our ALKA Directed Energy Weapon System provides an effective and cost-efficient solution against emerging asymmetric threats, particularly UAVs, using its laser weapon.
We are developing air defence solutions not only for land-based applications but also for naval defence. In this regard, the MİDLAS National Vertical Launcher System and LEVENT Close-In Weapon System further enhance the air defence capabilities of our naval forces.
What matters most is that these systems are not considered as standalone products, but as components of an integrated architecture that operates as a whole. Türkiye’s vision in this field is embodied in the Steel Dome. As ROKETSAN, we are developing the systems that form the striking power of the Steel Dome architecture. From the HİSAR family and SİPER to SUNGUR and ALKA, our solutions operating across different layers constitute key elements of Türkiye’s multi-layered air defence architecture.
We are also closely following Azerbaijan’s and other countries in the region’s efforts to develop their air defence capabilities. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ operational experience and the strong defence industry cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan present significant potential in this field. As ROKETSAN, with our air defence solutions developed to operate across different range and altitude layers, we have the capabilities to meet Azerbaijan’s current and future needs.
What are some of the company’s products currently being used by the Azerbaijan Air Force and the Land Forces?
Many of our products, including our UAV munitions, guidance kits, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles, are currently in service with the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. We are also particularly proud to have produced the munitions used by Baykar’s TB2 UAVs, which played an important role in the glorious victory in Karabakh.
In addition to ROKETSAN products, many products and systems developed by the Turkish defence industry are already making significant contributions to the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
However, I should also emphasize that what matters to us is not simply the introduction of specific products into Azerbaijan’s inventory. Our objective is to build a broad product and technology ecosystem capable of addressing the diverse operational requirements of different service branches, with capabilities that complement one another.
Do you expect ROKETSAN’s presence in Azerbaijan to grow significantly over the next decade?
Once the establishment process of the AZROKSAN facility is completed this year, we plan to commence production of 122 mm rockets at the AZROKSAN facilities. This will mark an important step in strengthening ROKETSAN’s presence in Azerbaijan.
Looking ahead, we aim both to expand the portfolio of ROKETSAN products in the inventory of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and to manufacture additional products at the production facilities to be brought into operation. We believe that the technological capabilities to be developed and acquired at these facilities will make a significant contribution to further advancing defence industry cooperation between our two countries.
What are the new products and capabilities that the company is showcasing at ADEX?
At ADEX 2026, ROKETSAN is showcasing a wide array of systems from our extensive product family. In the UAV munitions category, we have our Smart Gliding Munition Family – MAM-L, MAM-T, and MAM-T IIR – as well as our İHA-122 and İHA-230 Air-to-Surface Ballistic Supersonic Missiles. From our portfolio of anti-tank systems, we are introducing the CİRİT Laser-Guided Missile, KARAOK Short-Range Anti-Tank Weapon System, OMTAS Medium-Range Anti-Tank Weapon System, and UMTAS-GM Extended Long-Range Anti-Tank Missile System to the visitors.
In the cruise missile category, ÇAKIR, ATMACA and SOM; in air defence, our SUNGUR Air Defence Missile System; and in the artillery missile category, our TRG-122, TRLG-230, KHAN and TRG-300 systems are on display at our stand.
We are also presenting our PUSU Weapon System integrated with the CİRİT C-UAS Missile. PUSU is a mobile weapon system developed to respond rapidly and effectively to the needs of modern battlefields and is capable of operating with four CİRİT Laser-Guided Missiles.
Among the threats encountered on today’s battlefields, low-cost kamikaze UAVs have emerged as a particularly significant threat. Countering these threats requires solutions that are both effective and cost-efficient. Leveraging the existing CİRİT missile, we developed CİRİT C-UAS within a short timeframe to address this need. Featuring an integrated sensor and missile architecture, our system provides a rapid and effective solution against UAV threats from mobile platforms.
By integrating this new capability into PUSU, we have also expanded the system’s mission scope. In fact, during a recent firing test conducted from our PUSU Weapon System using CİRİT C-UAS, we successfully hit the target with pinpoint accuracy. This has enabled us to add UAVs to PUSU’s target set, alongside lightly armored and unarmored, stationary and moving targets.
What matters most to us is the ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats on the battlefield. With CİRİT C-UAS, we are addressing this need with a mobile, integrated, and cost-effective solution. We are also seeing significant international interest in this capability.
Another key capability we are highlighting is the BARBAROS Coastal Defence System, a modern coastal defence system developed to protect maritime borders, combining high mobility with powerful strike capabilities.
The system’s strike capability is provided by the ATMACA and ÇAKIR Cruise Missiles. The integration of these two distinct missile families within a single coastal defence concept provides BARBAROS with significant flexibility in addressing different missions and threats. Thanks to its mobile architecture, the system can respond rapidly to maritime threats and be flexibly deployed across different locations as operational needs require. Another key feature of BARBAROS is its design for integration with a wide range of systems.
Another key capability is our range of guidance kits. Our objective is to enhance the precision-strike capabilities of existing general-purpose bombs by equipping them with advanced guidance technologies.
Our TEBER Guidance Kit can be integrated with MK-81 and MK-82 General-Purpose Bombs, enabling greater targeting accuracy and enhanced strike capability.
LAÇİN is a guidance kit that can be used against both stationary and moving targets, featuring an imaging infrared seeker and a data link. Its capabilities, particularly in terms of target imagery and pilot interaction with the munition, further enhance precision-strike capability.
Our guidance technologies enable conventional munitions to be transformed into more precise, effective, and intelligent weapon systems, without the need to completely replace existing munition infrastructure.
All our products at ADEX are systems that have demonstrated outstanding performance in firing tests and proven their capabilities in the field. In addition to their high levels of technology and quality, ROKETSAN products are highly competitive with their global counterparts in terms of cost-effectiveness. For us, after-sales support is just as important as product delivery. Through comprehensive technical and field support, we stand by our users and provide the necessary support to ensure that our products perform their missions with the highest level of effectiveness.
