The Turkish company Aselsan, during the 4th edition of Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX 2025) presented a new version of its KGK wing assisted guidance kit – KGK-84. The kit converts 2000 lb. class free-fall general purpose bombs to smart guided bombs.
The fact is that the company sought to overcome the 100 km mark for aerial bombs with its wing assisted guidance kit. However, apparently the first versions that were demonstrated a few years ago could not do this. The new version seems to have overcome this mark. This is reported by the European Defence Review.
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New Turkish KGK-84 wing assisted guided kit / Photo credit: Aselsan
The KGK-84 is a direct analogue of the American JDAM-ER. However, the Turkish kit significantly surpasses the American one in range, 100 km for the KGK-84 compared to 75 km for the JDAM-ER.
This planning range for a 2,000-pound bomb was achieved by optimizing the design of the KGK-84. In particular, a new profile was created and the wingspan was increased. It is worth noting that the maximum range of over 100 km is achieved by dropping the bomb from an altitude of over 12 km.
JDAM-ER during testing by the Australian Air Force
The guidance system was developed taking into account the experience of the war in Ukraine, where electronic warfare systems are widely used, due to which Western guided aerial bombs, including the JDAM-ER, were initially well exposed to them. Therefore, KGK-84 uses for guidance 8-channel CRPA (Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna) antenna, as well as an inertial system, which gives a circular probable deviation of less than 10 meters.
The KGK-84 kit can be used with various 2000-pound bombs. In particular, as its name suggests, it can convert the American Mk 84 aerial bomb. As the manufacturer notes, it can be used to convert MK-84-T, NEB, and NEB-T too.
American JDAM-ER in flight / Open source photo
An important feature of the KGK-84 is the ability to fly not just to the target, but along a preset route, thanks to which the bomb could theoretically bypass air defense positions, or even approach the target from the rear. Neither the American JDAM-ER nor the Russian UMPK currently have this capability.
FAB-500 free-fall bomb equipped with UMPK kit / Open source photo
Defense Express reported earlier that russia was preparing to mass-produce long-range aerial guided bombs with turbojet engines, creating a weapon with a 150–200 km range.
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