Page 12 - ADT AUGUST 2021 Online Magazine

test firing marked the first time that such a long-
range and the high-altitude target was engaged
by an indigenous missile system.

The new SAM system is now in mass produc-
tion and the HiSAR-O+ has been developed
to protect military bases, critical infrastructure [ COVER STORY ]
and deployed stationary forces. It can engage
targets such as fighters, UAVs, helicopters,
cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles at
an altitude of 10 km. It can undertake multiple
engagements and successive firing at 18 tar-
gets (Battery Level). The HiSAR-A was Turkey’s
first indigenously developed air defence missile
system and was designed to engage low alti-
tude aerial targets. This missile system entered
mass production in 2019.

Suicide Drones and Loitering
Munitions
Turkish defense company STM manufactures
the Kargu suicide drone which has already
been operationally deployed by the Turkish
Armed Forces on the battlefield. In 2020, STM
announced that it would deliver over 500 Kargu
suicide drones to the Turkish armed forces. The
drones have also been supplied to the Turkish
police forces. In July, Turkey’s Presidency of
Defence Industries (SSB) announced that the
Kargu Rotary Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
(UAV) Attack drone had been successfully
exported to an undisclosed customer for the
first time.

The portable, rotary wing suicide attack drone
completed its maiden flight, joining the flight test programme. The is claimed to have a CEP of 6m and can also
Hürkuş trainer aircraft also recently took part in the International provide tactical ISR, in addition to precision
Anatolian Phoenix-2021 exercise and the aircraft has strong export strike capabilties for ground troops. The Kargu
prospects. rotary wing attack drone can be used as a sui-
cide drone or as a loitering munition system
To free its self from export constraints for future helicopter sales to and has a range of between 5-10 km in Line of
foreign customers, Turkish Aerospace has entered into an agree- Sight mode with an endurance of 30 minutes.
ment in June with Motor Sich of Ukraine to supply 14 engines for the It operates at a mission altitude of 500m and
new Turkish Multirole Heavy Combat Helicopter. The 10 tonne class can carry a warheads of 1 or 3kg. STM's unique
helicopter will be powered by two TV3-117 turboshafts. Turkish flight control system allows the Kargu drone to
Aerospace is also pursuing the development of the ATAK II heavy undertake fully autonomous navigation and it
attack helicopter, which is twice as heavy as the 5 tonne T129 can function both as a single platform and as
twin-engine multirole attack helicopter and first flight is planned part of a swarm of up to 20 platforms.
for 2024.
STM states that efforts are underway to stream-
New Medium Range Air Defence System line and improve swarm algorithms to perform
Turkey has also developed a new variant of its national Air Defence different tasks. Turkey is also undertaking the
Missile System HiSAR. The HiSAR-O+ is a vertical launch air KERKES Project to enable the drone swarm
defence missile system developed by Roketsan and Aselsan with to function smoothly in any environment. STM
its warhead developed by Tubitak SAGE. The quick deployment is expected to offer Kargu with full swarming
SAM system has an interception range of 25km and provides 360 abilities to the Turkish Armed Forces in approx-
degree coverage with a short reaction time. In March, the SSB imately by 2022-23. The platform Kargu drone
announced the delivery of the first HİSAR-O+ Medium Range Air is capable of detecting and striking static or
Defense System after successfully completion of a test firing. The mobile targets with high precision during day

12 | August 2021 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT