Roketsan’s KARAOK anti-tank missile has hit an aerial target for the first time, expanding the weapon’s demonstrated capabilities beyond ground targets.
The Turkish defense company did not disclose the target type, engagement range, or other details of the test, but said that it was a “direct hit on land and in the air.”
KARAOK uses an imaging infrared seeker and a fire-and-forget operating mode, allowing the missile to track its target after launch without continued guidance from the operator. It has a range of 2.5 kilometers and two attack profiles, direct attack and top attack.
The weapon has a 125mm diameter and is designed for shoulder-fired use. Its tandem anti-tank warhead is intended for armored targets, including tanks and other combat vehicles.
“By extending its proven effectiveness against ground targets to aerial targets as well, we are strengthening our versatile engagement capabilities against diverse threats with KARAOK,” Roketsan said.
KARAOK Expands Beyond Ground Targets
KARAOK has progressed from development into operational use with the Turkish Armed Forces.
Roketsan began developing the shoulder-launched anti-tank missile in 2016. By May 2026, the system had entered a more advanced stage of field use, with KARAOK deployed during a military exercise.
Earlier, in December 2025, it was demonstrated in a coordinated strike involving multiple unmanned ground vehicles (UGV).
The test, conducted under Turkey’s Smart Guidance Ammunition and Systems program, saw each UGV launch a KARAOK missile in sequence, with all rounds reportedly hitting their targets.