Azerbaijani Su-25 Tests Turkish SOM SAHIN Missile, Procurement Likely

Azerbaijan has test-fired the Turkish-made SOM ŞAHİN cruise missile from a modernized Su-25 fighter jet, a move that marks a critical step toward finalizing the missile’s procurement.

According to a statement by Scientific and Technological Research Institution of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), the firing test of the SOM-B1 variant—specifically tailored for Azerbaijan—was conducted using the Pod and Aircraft Independent Firing System (UBAS) developed by TÜBİTAK Defense Industries Research and Development Institute (SAGE). The launch was carried out from an Azerbaijani Su-25 aircraft named LAÇİN at a test range in Turkey.

The test marks the first full-scale demonstration of the SOM ŞAHİN by Azerbaijan, years after the country first expressed interest in the system in 2018. Previous export efforts were stalled due to foreign embargoes on missile engines. However, Turkey’s domestically developed Kale KTJ-3200 turbojet engine—used in this test—has removed a key barrier to exports.

The SOM ŞAHİN is the Azerbaijani-specific version of the SOM-B1, Turkey’s first domestically developed air-launched cruise missile. Weighing around 600 kilograms and carrying a 230-kg warhead, the missile can strike targets over 250 kilometers away. It is designed by TÜBİTAK SAGE and mass-produced by Roketsan.

Roketsan CEO Murat İkinci told defense outlet SavunmaSanayiST.com during the ADEX defense fair in September 2024 that the first deliveries of SOM ŞAHİN to Azerbaijan were expected by the end of that year. The test in 2024 indicates the missile may have already been delivered.

The Su-25 aircraft involved in the launch had been upgraded by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) as part of Azerbaijan’s LAÇİN Project, which has enabled the integration of Turkish-made precision munitions. In addition to Su-25 aircraft, Azerbaijan plans to arm its AKINCI TİHA unmanned aerial platforms with the SOM ŞAHİN, with further integration trials expected soon.

The original SOM missile program began in 2006 to meet the Turkish Air Force's requirements for a domestically made cruise missile. Its modular design allows for multiple variants, enhancing its adaptability for different mission profiles.