Türkiye’s TAYFUN Block 3 Ballistic Missile Designed To Hit Moving Ships Enters Production

Türkiye has started serial production of its TAYFUN Block 3 ballistic missile. Deliveries to the Turkish Armed Forces are planned for 2026. The missile is designed to hit moving ships as well as hardened targets on land.

ROKETSAN General Manager Murat İkinci confirmed the development during an interview with CNN Türk at ADEX2026 in Azerbaijan. He said both TAYFUN Block 2 and Block 3 had entered serial production.

This means the first three TAYFUN versions are now in serial production as the missile family is gradually introduced into Turkish Armed Forces service.

Block 3 is the anti-ship version of TAYFUN. It is designed to support Türkiye’s coastal defence and has a larger warhead and high terminal speed.

The missile can be used against ships and bunkers. Its role is therefore not limited to maritime targets.

One of the main changes in Block 3 is its terminal seeker. Earlier versions used coordinate-based guidance. The seeker allows Block 3 to make changes to its course during the final part of the flight when attacking a moving target.

The system was tested in the Black Sea in July 2026. During the test, the missile hit an unmanned surface vessel about seven metres long.

Presidency of Defence Industries President Haluk Görgün said the missile had hit the moving target with what he called pinpoint accuracy.

The test details have not been fully released. The range of the test, the speed of the target and the missile’s flight time are not known.

Without those details, it is not possible to independently assess how the missile would perform against a defended warship. İkinci said the seeker technology was a first for Türkiye and one of only a few such examples in the world.

What Is Different About Block 3?

TAYFUN has been developed in several versions.

Block 1 is the original version. Blocks 2 and 3 are now in serial production. A larger Block 4 is also part of the TAYFUN family.

The TAYFUN versions can be launched from a common launch vehicle. Block 4 is larger and uses a podless single-carriage layout.

Türkiye has not released the exact range of the TAYFUN missiles.

The Block 1 version has been tested at a distance beyond the reach demonstrated by the BORA missile. Blocks 2, 3 and 4 are understood to have longer ranges and/or more powerful propulsion sections.

Block 3 combines a ballistic flight path with a terminal seeker. This gives it a way to attack moving ships rather than being limited to fixed targets.

Its high terminal speed also means the final part of the flight takes place quickly. But speed alone does not show whether the missile can get through a warship’s defences.

Details about the seeker, the missile’s manoeuvrability and its ability to deal with countermeasures have not been fully disclosed.

The larger TAYFUN Block 4 also has a multi-purpose warhead with penetration capabilities, but on a larger scale.

References: defencesecurityasia, turdef