The Turkish defense company Aselsan created its own analogue of JDAM called GÖZDE, which, during a test drop from the F-16, successfully destroyed a small-sized moving target (a vehicle turned into a target).
What the test looked like can be seen in this video from the company’s press service. And if we evaluate this development as a whole, we can say that such guided bombs could theoretically be quite suitable for dropping from our unmanned aircraft, which are now, in the role of “night bombers”, attacking the Rashists with Soviet FAB-250s.
Based on the information disseminated by the ASELSAN press service, then in the case of GÖZDE we can talk about a kit that should turn the 227-kilogram Mk 82 aerial bomb (which also acts as the main one for JDAM) into a guided one.
ASELSAN worked together with the TÜBİTAK Defense Industry Research and Development Institute (SAGE) on GÖZDE. It is also indicated that this guided munition has a combined guidance system using an inertial navigation system (INS), satellite navigation (GNSS) and laser beam guidance capability.
During the above-mentioned tests, targeting was carried out by target designation from the F-16 carrier aircraft, but the use of this bomb is also possible in the “shoot-forget” mode, using INS and GNSS. It is also interesting that GÖZDE can be used not only from F-16 or F-4 Phantom aircraft, but also from Akinci-type attack UAVs. It is the last moment that attracts special attention.
The ASELSAN website indicates that the GÖZDE guided bomb has a drop range of 28 kilometers with a maximum drop height of 12 kilometers, the accuracy of hitting the target is up to 3 meters, the weight of this ammunition is 265 kilograms.
Based on these characteristics, in the current conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war, GÖZDE could get an interesting niche for use from our unmanned bombers, which are now working against the Rashists with Soviet FAB-250s.
Of course, the possibility of dropping such a guided munition would clearly require the need to refine the control system for unmanned bombers. But nevertheless, it could be an interesting technological find that could help increase the effectiveness of strikes with unmanned systems against the Russian occupiers at the front.
