Indonesia to become first foreign importer of Turkey’s Khan long-range missile system

Asia-Pacific, Middle East, News November 10, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Turkiye’s largest missile producer Roketsan has announced its plans to export locally produced ‘Khan’ long-range missile systems to Indonesia. This is the first time Turkey’s Khan missile would be used by a military force other than Turkiye.

Roketsan has signed a contract with Indonesia to supply them with ‘Khan’ missile and multilayer air defense system by the end of this month. Roketsan announced the deal during the Indo Defense Expo & Forum 2022 in Jakarta. Several Turkish companies are taking part in the ongoing expo.

Roketsan’s Assistant General Manager Murat Kurtulus announced the deal while speaking to a Turkish news outlet. He mentioned the Southeast Asian market has been an important target for the company, considering the region’s developing economy and population, as well as its geopolitical effects. He added that Southeast Asian countries will continue to play an important role in the company’s future.

Khan is an export variant of Roketsan’s Bora ballistic missile system. It can be launched from an 8×8 multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL). Khan can also be launched by other mobile platforms and tactical wheeled vehicles as it has integration and modification capabilities as per the user’s requirements.

After substantial success in the drone market, Turkish defense manufacturers are expanding their expertise in other forms of weaponry while particularly focusing on short- and medium-range missiles.

In 2011, the Turkish government announced its plans to develop long-range missiles with a maximum range of 2500 kilometers, and by January 2013 Turkiye possessed the capabilities to produce a missile with a range of 800 kilometers.

Last month Turkiye also tested an indigenously developed short-range ballistic missile over the Black Sea. The missile is being dubbed Tayfun and has a range of at least 560 kilometers. Tayfun is also developed by Roketsan.

*^{Turkish defense firm Roketsan-made Tayfun ballistic missile is test-fired over the Black Sea, Rize, northern Turkiye, on October 18, 2022. (Image Credit: DHA/via Dailysabah)}*

Turkiye’s increasing defense manufacturing capabilities have alerted its neighboring rival Greece. Despite being fellow NATO member states, the two countries have been experiencing growing tensions over the historically disputed territorial claims over the Aegean islands. The Greek press took notice of the Tayfun test launch and termed it a “concerning act” for Turkiye’s neighboring countries.

The U.S. has also been keeping a close eye on Turkiye’s increasing defense production capabilities, especially after Turkey acquired the Russian S-400 missile defense system in 2017. The deal leads to a longstanding contention between the U.S. and Turkiye.

In response to Turkiye’s decision to acquire the Russian S-400 systems, the U.S. expelled its NATO ally Turkiye from the F-35 fighter jet development program, where Turkiye was expected to be a major buyer and manufacturer. U.S. reasoned that Russia could use its S-400 systems to covertly obtain classified details about the F-35 jets. Since then, Turkey has been focusing more on enhancing its own defense industry