Turkey unveils SOM-M cruise missile for KAAN fighter jet at IDEF 2025

Turkey has revealed its newest cruise missile, the SOM-M, developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE for the next-generation KAAN fighter jet. Debuting at the IDEF 2025 defense exhibition, the SOM-M is the latest member of Turkey’s SOM (Stand-Off Missile) family and marks the country’s first air-launched cruise missile developed specifically for internal carriage on stealth aircraft.

With a range of 185 km, the SOM-M offers precision strikes against moving surface and land targets, using stealthy design, terrain-referenced navigation (GRN), infrared imaging seeker (IRG) and automatic target recognition (ATA). Its post-launch data link enhances operational flexibility and target reassignment in real time.

Developed using 100% indigenous technologies, SOM-M features a semi-penetrating warhead, optimized for the modern battlefield, and can be launched from KAAN’s internal weapons bay, maintaining stealth integrity.

Meanwhile, the SOM-J, a lighter variant, successfully struck a surface target in a test conducted by an F-16 of the Turkish Air Force. Designed for compatibility with KAAN, ANKA III, and Bayraktar KIZILELMA, the SOM-J will serve as a high-value force multiplier, enabling stand-off precision attacks on critical targets.

According to defenceturk.net