IDEF 2025: Roketsan's LG‑155 laser-guided artillery shell allows Türkiye to target enemy positions with fewer rounds.

At IDEF 2025 in Istanbul, Roketsan showcased the LG‑155 laser-guided artillery munition, a 155 mm precision round developed for use with Turkish self-propelled howitzers such as the T-155 Fırtına and Fırtına-II. This artillery round was first introduced to the public at the SAHA EXPO 2024 in Istanbul and was later presented internationally at defense exhibitions, including FEINDEF in Spain. Designed from the outset as a guided munition rather than a retrofit solution, the LG‑155 was, at the time, entering the final testing stage.
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The development of the LG‑155 followed Roketsan’s earlier projects such as the MDK (Mesafe Düzeltme Kiti – Range Correction Kit) program, which reduced the dispersion of 155 mm MOD274 and M107 projectiles to below 50 meters. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Live firing trials have already taken place, and serial production was expected to begin shortly. Roketsan's general manager, Murat İkinci, previously confirmed during multiple press briefings that testing continues successfully and that cooperation with the Machinery and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE) is ongoing, with a joint production model foreseen. According to İkinci, the Turkish Armed Forces are expected to induct the round into their inventory soon after the start of mass production. The LG‑155 round weighs 50 kg and measures 1.2 m in length with a diameter of 155 mm. It is equipped with a 22 kg high-explosive warhead and designed to deliver accuracy through a guidance system combining inertial mid-course navigation and semi-active laser homing in the terminal phase. The system engages targets between 7 km and 25 km, with a circular error probable (CEP) of less than 5 m. It is fully compatible with existing Turkish 155 mm artillery systems and does not require modifications to current platforms. In the design phase, Roketsan chose to develop a munition structure with an aerodynamic airframe and enlarged control surfaces to provide maneuverability during the terminal correction phase, rather than adapting an unguided shell with guidance kits. The system was introduced alongside five other new Roketsan products during IDEF 2025, reflecting a broadening of the firm’s artillery and precision munition offerings.

The LG‑155 is intended to strike a variety of target types, including artillery and air defense systems, radar positions, command and control posts, communication systems, logistics facilities, troop assembly zones, and moving tactical targets. It requires an external laser designator for terminal guidance, which may come from forward observers, unmanned aerial vehicles, or other targeting elements. The system is not fire-and-forget and depends on maintaining the laser spot on the target throughout the engagement. Nevertheless, it has been designed to operate effectively in environments where satellite navigation is compromised or unavailable. This feature is relevant given recent lessons from conflicts such as the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war, where electronic warfare capabilities have been employed to degrade the effectiveness of GPS-based systems. Roketsan emphasized this attribute during its promotional campaigns and exhibition briefings.

The development of LG‑155 followed Roketsan’s earlier experience with the Mesafe Düzeltme Kiti (MDK), a range correction kit for unguided 155 mm MOD274 and M107 shells, which reduced dispersion to below 50 meters. The LG‑155 project evolved beyond MDK by offering a complete guided round capable of terminal homing. İkinci noted that the challenges of creating a laser-guided shell capable of surviving the acceleration and pressure of a 52-caliber artillery barrel were addressed in the LG‑155’s structural design. The round's compatibility with existing launch platforms was emphasized as a key advantage for rapid fielding. Turkish defense outlets also reported that the project has reached serial production readiness and will be manufactured in cooperation with MKE. İkinci stated that LG‑155’s effectiveness will be validated further once fielded by the Turkish military and potentially observed by other users employing similar technology.

Roketsan’s LG‑155 is positioned in the same category as other laser-guided artillery munitions such as the Russian 2K25 Krasnopol and the U.S. M712 Copperhead. The LG‑155 achieves a comparable level of accuracy while being launched from domestic Turkish artillery systems. Unlike satellite-guided shells such as the M982 Excalibur, LG‑155’s guidance does not rely on GPS, which makes it immune to certain electronic countermeasures. However, laser-guided systems are subject to visibility constraints such as weather, battlefield smoke, or obstruction of the line of sight to the target. Roketsan acknowledged these operational considerations while presenting the system’s intended mission set, which includes both conventional and asymmetric engagements. The projectile is designed to contribute to precision fire support against time-sensitive or high-value targets while operating alongside conventional munitions in combined artillery batteries.

Laser-guided artillery shells operate using a semi-active laser homing mechanism in which the projectile homes in on a laser energy reflection during the terminal phase of flight. The guidance sequence begins with a forward observer, drone, or vehicle-mounted designator illuminating a target with a coded laser beam. The shell, once fired from a conventional howitzer, follows a ballistic trajectory until a designated point in its flight path, at which time it activates its onboard optical seeker. Upon detecting the reflected laser energy, the shell’s control system issues course correction commands to aerodynamic surfaces such as canards or fins. This terminal guidance allows for increased accuracy by correcting trajectory deviations in the final seconds before impact. The system requires continuous illumination of the target until detonation, and is sensitive to environmental conditions, including fog, smoke, or cloud cover that may obstruct the laser signal. The approach allows for real-time target engagement, but demands close coordination between firing units and designator teams.

The development of laser-guided artillery shells began during the Cold War with the introduction of the U.S. M712 Copperhead in the early 1980s. The Copperhead used flip-out fins and a nose-mounted laser seeker, offering a maximum range of around 16 km, and was primarily used to engage armored vehicles and fortified positions. It was later used in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Soviet Union introduced the 2K25 Krasnopol in the mid-1980s, a 152/155 mm round using rocket-assisted propulsion and a laser guidance system similar to the Copperhead. Krasnopol was used by Russian forces in Syria and exported to India, where it saw operational use during the 1999 Kargil War. China subsequently developed the GP155 series, which was influenced by imported Russian designs and includes variants with both laser-only and dual-mode guidance combining laser and satellite navigation. Over time, improvements in seeker technology, range extension techniques such as base-bleed and rocket assistance, and better aerodynamic control surfaces have expanded the capabilities of laser-guided shells. These systems have been adapted to operate from a wide range of NATO and non-NATO artillery platforms.

Laser-guided artillery shells have demonstrated operational utility across several theaters of conflict by enabling precision strikes with fewer rounds. During the Gulf War, U.S. forces used Copperhead rounds to eliminate Iraqi tanks and artillery positions without requiring supporting air strikes. In Syria, Russian forces employed Krasnopol shells against fortified enemy positions in urban settings, relying on UAV-based laser designation to guide the munitions. India used laser-guided artillery to neutralize high-altitude bunkers during the Kargil conflict, where conventional artillery suffered from limited accuracy due to mountainous terrain. In recent years, the 2022–2025 Russia–Ukraine conflict has involved both Russian and Ukrainian forces using laser-guided munitions in conjunction with drones to strike command centers, vehicle columns, and artillery batteries. These munitions reduce the need for bracketing fire and shorten engagement timelines, although they remain dependent on the availability of line-of-sight targeting. Their use illustrates the expanding role of precision fires within ground forces, particularly where air-delivered munitions are constrained or electronic warfare interferes with satellite navigation systems.