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Turkish defense firm ASELSAN conducted a live-fire test of its bunker-buster Tolun precision-guided munition, destroying a UH-1 helicopter placed beneath reinforced concrete, fired from Baykar’s Akinci unmanned combat vehicle.

The test took place at a firing range in Konya and demonstrated the munition’s ability to penetrate hardened structures before neutralizing protected targets.

Footage released from the trial showed the Tolun striking a reinforced concrete shelter and destroying the helicopter, which had previously served in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces.

The latest firing followed earlier successful tests of the fragmentation-effect Tolun-F variant. During the campaign, the Akinci platform completed firing tests using both the proximity-sensor fragmentation-effect Tolun-F and the ASAF-fused bunker-buster Tolun, validating different warhead and fuze configurations under operational conditions.

The bunker-buster variant employs a Hard Target Fuze designed to ensure delayed detonation after penetrating reinforced concrete. According to ASELSAN, the trials confirmed the munition’s performance against hardened targets and its compatibility with different delivery profiles.

Turkiye’s Defense Industry Agency President Haluk Gorgun said, “These successful firings once again demonstrated how compatible and effective ASELSAN’s developed munition technologies work with Baykar platforms.” He added, “We are advancing our air power step by step with national solutions,” and congratulated the ASELSAN and Baykar teams involved in the tests.

Bayraktar #AKINCI ✈️🐳🚀

✅ TOLUN-IIR Munition Moving Target Firing Test

🎯 Bull’s Eye#Baykar 🤝 @Aselsan#NationalTechnologyInitiative 🌍🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/yXKwP3j8NU

— BAYKAR (@BaykarTech) December 31, 2025

ASELSAN Chief Executive Officer Ahmet Akyol described the firing as a demonstration of joint national capability, saying, “Two national powers are on stage with new capabilities,” referring to the Akinci platform and the Tolun munition family.

He added, “No point hiding or being hidden, Bayraktar Akinci and ASELSAN Tolun,” highlighting both the bunker-buster and fragmentation-effect variants as having “high impact on multiple targets and wide areas.”

Strategic Characteristics of the Tolun Munition

Tolun continues to be delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces and is considered strategically significant due to its standoff range exceeding 100 kilometers and its resistance to electronic warfare.

The 250-pound class munition is guided by a GNSS/INS navigation system and is capable of penetrating up to one meter of reinforced concrete, allowing it to strike high-value hardened targets such as aircraft shelters with meter-level precision.

ASELSAN describes Tolun as the baseline variant within its family of small-diameter bombs, which also includes the Tolun-F, Tolun-IIR, and surface-launched Tolun-S versions. Previous long-range tests confirmed a range of more than 100 kilometers during firings from an F-16 fighter jet, which Akyol described as achieving “very long range, absolute precision” through end-to-end national engineering.

These developments underline Ankara’s broader effort to reduce reliance on foreign strike weapons and expand indigenous options for both manned and unmanned platforms.

According to ASELSAN, the test validated Tolun’s performance beyond unmanned aerial vehicles and ground-based trials, marking a key step toward integrating the bunker-busting munition across Turkiye’s manned combat aircraft fleet.

The firing demonstrated clean separation from the underwing pylon, deployment of aerodynamic control surfaces, and a stable transition into guided flight.

Analysis of the footage showed mid-flight trajectory adjustments, indicating that the integrated inertial and satellite-based navigation systems were fully engaged and operating within the stated performance envelope. The transition from controlled drop tests to operational launches from a high-speed platform was presented as evidence of the program’s maturity and readiness for service.

Development Timeline and Integration

The development of the Tolun weapon family began in 2020 as part of an effort to address an operational gap in Turkiye’s ability to engage hardened targets at standoff ranges using domestically developed munitions. The goal was to produce a 250-pound class precision-guided weapon capable of modular integration across manned and unmanned platforms.

The prototype was unveiled at the IDEF 2021 defense exhibition alongside ASELSAN’s Smart Pneumatic Quad Rack system, known as SADAK-4T. Initial testing throughout 2022 validated aerodynamic performance and structural resilience. By early 2023, flight release trials began using UAV platforms such as the Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci, confirming successful carriage and drop behavior.

That same year, ASELSAN introduced the Tolun-SI variant, designed to operate independently of the SADAK rack system to meet integration requirements for Turkish Air Force F-16 Block 30 and Block 40 aircraft.

Ground tests began in late 2023, followed by captive carry trials in early 2024. Full integration with aircraft mission computers and flight control systems was completed by mid-2025, culminating in the recent live-fire demonstration.

Technical Capabilities and Operational Role

Tolun is designed as a compact, low-collateral, high-penetration munition intended for hardened targets such as bunkers, fortified command centers, and reinforced infrastructure.

The warhead weighs approximately 105 kilograms and uses a hardened steel nose and shaped-charge architecture capable of penetrating up to one meter of reinforced concrete before detonation.

The total system weight is around 136 kilograms, with a length of 1.8 meters and a body diameter of 164 millimeters. These dimensions allow for multiple underwing mounts or potential internal bay carriage on compatible platforms.

Guidance is provided by an integrated INS/GNSS navigation suite hardened against electronic interference through anti-jamming measures and software protection against spoofing. The munition supports pre-programmed attack angles, waypoint navigation, and in-flight target reassignment. Circular error probable is listed at under 10 meters, enabling precision strikes in complex or urban environments.

When launched from a fighter aircraft at altitude, Tolun can reach ranges of up to 102 kilometers. From UAV platforms operating at lower altitudes, the effective range is approximately 57 kilometers. Folding wing assemblies enhance glide efficiency while reducing exposure of the launch platform to enemy air defenses.

Broader Strategic Implications

Tolun is compatible with multiple carriage configurations, including single mounts and dual or quad smart racks, allowing aircraft to engage multiple targets in a single sortie. The munition is already integrated across a range of Turkish platforms, including the F-16, Bayraktar TB2, Bayraktar Akinci, and ANKA-III UCAV.

Strategically, the program reflects Turkiye’s broader defense industrial autonomy doctrine. Following years of export restrictions and limitations on advanced munition transfers, defense planners accelerated indigenous weapons development to ensure frontline platforms are no longer dependent on foreign precision strike systems.

Sources within the Turkish Air Force indicate that initial fielding of the air-launched Tolun-SI variant is expected in the second half of 2026, beginning with selected operational squadrons. ASELSAN is also actively marketing the system for export, particularly to air forces operating legacy F-16 fleets in regions seeking alternatives to export-controlled munitions.

Although serial production has not yet been formally announced, industry sources suggest low-rate initial production may already be underway, with full-scale manufacturing expected following additional qualification and clearance trials.

The successful demonstrations from both unmanned and manned platforms mark a significant step in Turkiye’s ability to deploy domestically produced, precision-guided bunker-busting weapons, reinforcing its position as a self-reliant defense producer with growing export ambitions.