Turkey Blasts Off with New SOM-J Cruise Missile
The SOM-J missile’s modular design and significant range make it an attractive prospect on the international market.
Despite significant political turmoil at home, Turkey continues its breakneck pursuit of self-reliance in defense technology—as part of its larger strategy of independence from its European neighbors in order to achieve regional dominance within the Middle East. The newest system that Turkey has developed for itself is the SOM-J (Stand-Off Munition-J) cruise missile.
Developed by the TÜÍTAK SAGE, Turkey’s Defense Industries Research and Development Institute, in conjunction with ROKETSAN, the SOM-J cruise missile represents a significant leap in precision-guided munitions for the country.
The SOM-J is a variant of the broader SOM family, which was initiated in 2006 as Turkey’s first domestically developed cruise missile. TÜÍTAK SAGE is very similar to the US military research arm of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) for its innovative research and design; it spearheaded the project to create a weapon capable of striking both stationary and moving targets from a safe distance—over 111 miles initially.
Turkey’s SOM Cruise Missiles
Turkey’s SOM family of cruise missiles, which include iconic variants, like the SOM-A, SOM-B1, and SOM-B2, have all been in service with the Turkish Air Force since 2011, deployed on platforms such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-4E 2020 Terminator. The SOM-J, however, emerged as a specialized iteration, originally tailored for integration with the F-35 Lightning II’s internal weapons bay—a collaboration between TÜÍTAK SAGE, ROKETSAN, and Lockheed Martin that was formalized in 2014.
Unfortunately for Ankara, Turkey’s expulsion from the US F-35 program in 2019 due to its purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defense system—which came about after the Obama administration refused to sell Patriot Missile batteries to its NATO partner—shifted the SOM-J’s development.
Rather than abandoning the project, though, Turkey redirected its focus toward integrating the missile with indigenous platforms, such as the F-16, the upcoming KAAN fifth-generation warplane, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) like the Bayraktar Kizilelma and Akinci.
Turkey’s demonstrated adaptability in the face of Western intransigence underscores the logic behind its strategic pivot toward technological autonomy, a cornerstone of its defense policy under initiatives like the “National R&D for National Defense.”
The Specs of the New SOM-J Cruise Missile
The SOM-J is a truly next generation, autonomous, high-precision cruise missile designed to neutralize heavily defended land and naval targets. It can travel over 270 miles, making it a serious standoff weapon. Its low radar cross-section enhances the missile’s inherent stealth capabilities, allowing the SOM-J to evade most enemy air defenses.
This missile employs sophisticated guidance systems, too. These systems combine inertial navigation (INS), GPS, terrain-referenced navigation (TRN), and imaging infrared (IIR) seekers, ensuring pinpoint accuracy—even in contested environments where GPS signals might be jammed.
One of the standout features of this missile is its advanced data link capability, allowing for post-launch control. This includes retargeting, target updates, mission cancellation, and the ability to silence communications, providing operational flexibility in dynamic combat scenarios.
The missile is currently powered by a French TRI-40 turbojet engine, but Turkish engineers plan to transition it to the domestically produced Kale KTJ-3200. Its modular design allows for different warhead configurations, tailoring it to specific mission requirements—whether against soft targets, hardened bunkers, or maritime platforms.
On March 21, 2025, the SOM-J successfully attacked a surface target. Launched from an F-16 belonging to the Turkish Air Force’s 401st Test Squadron, the missile accurately struck a maritime target, demonstrating its expanded role. The test, announced by Turkey’s Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Faith Kacir, highlighted the SOM-J as an “effective force multiplier” for modern warfare. The ability to engage naval treats from long range addresses a critical gap in Turkey’s arsenal, particularly in the context of regional tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea.
There are, of course, challenges.
The transition to a domestic engine, while a step forward for autonomy, requires rigorous testing to ensure reliability. Integration with multiple platforms, particularly advanced UAVs and the Turkish fifth-generation KAAN, demands significant engineering effort and investment.
And while the missile’s range and capabilities are impressive, they must be continually upgraded to keep pace with evolving air defense systems in the region, particularly those operated by Greece… or Russia.
Fortunately for Turkey, the good outweighs the bad with this system. The missile’s modular design and significant range make it an attractive prospect on the international market, provided Turkey navigates the mine-laden Missile Technology Control Regime (MCTR) of which it is a member. Furthermore, ongoing advancements in AI and data link systems could enhance its autonomy and effectiveness, aligning with global trends in intelligent weaponry.
The SOM-J is a real coup for Turkey. It not only bolsters national security but it also signals the country’s emergence as a significant contributor to global defense technology.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Sergey Kohl.