Page 21 - ADT MAY-JUNE 2022 Online Magazine
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tection to its tiered air defense system with the plan to acquire a   While the KM-SAM missile “only” has a max-
        long-range SAM system.
                                                                       interception altitude of 20 km, South Korea has
        This plan calls for a networked ground-launched air defence mis-  also started the development of the new L-SAM
        sile system with an effective range of at least 100 km. It also put   missile with an increased  range to  around
        forward a requirement for the system to be able to detect and   150 km, and a maximum altitude of 60 km. In
        destroy threats ranging from UAVs to ballistic missiles in their ter-  February 2022, the first firing test of the new
        minal phase. The system will also have to be easily transportable,   missile was conducted with a satisfactory result.
        quick to set up and offer ease of maintenance. Based on these   Also known as Cheolmae-2 or Cheongung in
        requirements, there are at least three systems that have caught   South Korea, each KM-SAM system consists
        the interest of the decision-makers in the Indonesian Air Force   of between four to six TELs each with eight
        and the Indonesian Defence Ministry: ASTER 30 SAMP/T from the   launchers, a 3D phased array radar module, a
        European multinational company Eurosam, KM-SAM from South      command module called Engagement Control
                                                                       imum range of about 40 km with a maximum  [ MISSILE  SYSTEMS ]
        Korea, and HİSAR-U/SİPER from Turkey.                          Center (ECS), and a mobile power generator.
                                                                       Each module is mounted on a KIA KM-1500 8x8
                                                                       truck ensuring high mobility and quick rede-
        Competent Contenders                                           ployment ability. In January 2022, the United
        Developed in the late 1980s and started to enter service in 2001 as   Arab Emirates finalized a USD3.37 billion con-
        a naval air defense system onboard the French nuclear-powered   tract to acquire the KM-SAM from South Korea
        aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, the Aster system is a two-stage   to be the first foreign user of the system.
        missile with two kinds of first-stage boosters to fit two different
        purposes. The “short-booster” equipped Aster 15 is a short to
        medium-range missile with a maximum range of over 30 km. The   HİSAR-U/SİPER
        “long booster” Aster 30 is the long-range version with a maximum   Two Turkish defence companies Roketsan and
        range of over 120 km. In 2011, the ground-based mobile version   Aselsan started the joint development of the
        of the Aster 30 missile system called SAMP/T (Sol-Air Moyenne   HİSAR (fortress) ground-launched air defense
        Portée/Terrestre or Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain) was   missile family in 2007. This missile family con-
        first deployed operationally by the French Air Force and French   sisted of the 15 km range HİSAR-A/A+, 25 km
        Army followed by the Italian Army in 2012.                     range HİSAR-O/O+, 70-100 km range HİSAR-U,
                                                                       and 150 km range SİPER (trench) versions, of
        Also known as “MAMBA” by the French, a complete SAMP/T         which the latter two are still in their develop-
        battery consists of an ARABEL target detection and fire control   ment phase. After the first firing test of the
        radar module, a command post/engagement module, up to six      HİSAR-O missile in 2016 followed by the first
        Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) each with eight launch tubes,   firing  test  of  the  HİSAR-A  version  in  2018,
        a power generator, a maintenance and repair module, and a missile   both missile systems began to be deployed by
        reloader. Each of these SAMP/T modules is mounted on a Renault   the Turkish armed forces in 2021. They have
        Kerrax 8x8 truck for the French version or an IVECO Astra 8x8   been upgraded to A+ and O+ versions with an
        truck for the Italian version. Due to this, the SAMP/T air defense   increased maximum interception altitude and
        system can be deployed and redeployed quickly up to several times   performance.
        a day each in a different location.
        Outside French and Italian navies, the Aster missile family has been   Turkey is planning to test the HİSAR-U and
        exported to equip warships from eight other countries including   SİPER versions this year with planned deploy-
        Singapore which also has acquired the SAMP/T system for its air   ment in 2023. While each HİSAR-A/A+ system
        force.                                                         is usually mounted on a Turkish-made ACV-300
                                                                       armored vehicle with two vertical launchers
                                                                       on each side of the vehicle and an onboard
        KM-SAM                                                         detection and tracking radar, the HİSAR-O/O+
        In the aftermath of North Korea’s test launch of its Taepodong-I   system utilizes a Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6x6
        ballistic missile in 1998, South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense   military truck chassis for each of its modules,
        initiated a program to develop a new air defense and anti-ballistic   which is also probably similar to HİSAR-U and
        missile system called “M-SAM” (also known as KM-SAM). This new   SİPER systems’ configuration.
        system is also intended to replace the US-made MIM-23 HAWK
        SAM system which has no ballistic missile interception ability and   A complete HİSAR-O/O+ battery comprises
        has served in South Korea’s Air Force since 1983. During its devel-  three  TELs  each  with  six  launchers,  one
        opment course, South Korea has signed a technology transfer    KALKAN phased array 3D radar vehicle, one
        agreement with Russia to use the latter’s S-300, S-350, and S-400   electro-optical sensor vehicle, a tactical data
        missile systems as the basis of the KM-SAM’s development. The   link connection vehicle, a command and fire
        result of this agreement was revealed in 2011 followed by a full   control vehicle, as well as a power generator
        production phase in 2015 and the first active deployment in 2016.  vehicle.


        ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY                                                                May/June 2022 | 21
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