Page 12 - DSA 2024 - DAY 1 | DAILY NEWS

are continuing in line with the determined
schedule, and we will realise the remaining
deliveries on time with strict adherence
to this schedule.

Could you give us some information
about Roketsan’s air defence systems
and their export potential?
Roketsan produces short-, medium- and
long-range air defence systems to cover
all tiers of a layered air defence system.
Our SUNGUR Air Defence Missile System,
HİSAR-A Low-Altitude Air Defence Missile
and HİSAR-O Medium-Altitude Air Defence
Missile have entered the inventory of the
Turkish Armed Forces, and mass produc-
tion is continuing. We recently conducted
test firings of our National Vertical Launch
System (MİDLAS) from the indigenously
produced TCG İstanbul frigate, and will
soon add this system to the inventory of
the Turkish Naval Forces. and lock on to the target. After completing to successfully launch Şimşek-1 Space

Among our other air defence systems, the development and testing phases of Launch System, featuring a fully liquid-fu-
SUNGUR is a high-tech product with very LEVENT, which we hope to do as soon elled propulsion system that can place
high export potential that has attract- as possible, we will be able to meet the a satellite weighing 400 kg in a 550 km
ed considerable interest from several needs of both the Turkish Armed Forces orbit – alongside the Starlink satellites, by
countries in various parts of the world. and friendly and allied nations in this field scaling up the technologies we have devel-
SUNGUR has been developed for the with the most appropriate solution. oped. Upon the successful completion of
short-range air defence of mobile or fixed this programme, Türkiye will have gained
units and facilities on the battlefield and the capability to launch, test, produce sat-
in the rear area, and can be used both What role is Roketsan playing in Türkiye’s ellites, and establish bases, capabilities
as a Man-portable air defence system promotion to the Space League? that few countries in the world possess.
(MANPAD) or integrated onto a platform. In today’s world, developed countries can
be seen to be making serious investments Could you tell us about the main purpose
Having recognised the importance of into the space field, and we are reviewing of Roketsan, and its short- and long-term
naval defence warfare for Southeast our position accordingly. Space studies goals?
Asian countries, we are striving to de- are the focal point of technologies of the
velop the most effective solutions for future, and Türkiye is making significant Roketsan is able to fully meet the needs
the air defence of the naval forces in investments and launching projects to of the Turkish Armed Forces in its areas
the region. Accordingly, our HİSAR Air ensure it stays in this race. of operation and is today able to export
Defence Missiles and SİPER Long-Range its products to many parts of the world,
Air Defence and Missile System product The first domestic probe rocket launched from Europe to Asia, and from Africa to
family, which we are also exhibiting at using national technologies reached an America in global competitions.
DSA, when integrated with MİDLAS, can altitude of 126 km, exceeding the 100-km We have developed ground-breaking tech-
be considered the most effective solution line that is considered the edge of space. nologies in the rocket, missile and weapon
in this regard. We are continuing our ef- We thus made our first journey into space system fields, and we continue to take
forts to integrate the HİSAR- and SİPER- using our own technologies. firm steps towards the future with more
integrated MİDLAS with platforms in the In the following phase, we concentrated than 5,000 employees, modern facilities,
inventories of the countries in the region. on our efforts on the collection of data large R&D investments and products with
By finalising our works in this direction as from space, and completed launch tests proven success in the field.
soon as possible, we will both strengthen with our new probe rockets, reaching an
the defence of the countries in the region altitude of 136 km. This was an important In 2023, the strength and success of our
and make significant contributions to the milestone for us, being a significant step company in the sector were proven by
exports of both our country and Roketsan. towards the development of liquid-fuelled being ranked 80th on the list of the 100
rocket engines, and the payloads carried largest defence industry companies in the
Our Close Air Defence System LEVENT, world prepared by Defence News, 10th
another product developed for the self-de- by the probe rockets launched the start on the list of the fastest growing defence
fence of naval platforms, will form the of our nation’s scientific studies in space. industry companies in the world by the
backbone of naval air defence systems. Looking to the future, our next target is Stockholm International Peace Research
Developed with the SUNGUR missile in the performance of a sub-orbital flight Institute (SIPRI), and in the top percentile
mind, LEVENT will operate using two sepa- at an altitude of 300+ km with a new in the size ranking of defence industry
rate launchers that can be integrated with probe rocket, with a payload capacity of companies prepared by SIPRI. We aim
the ship’s sensors or move autonomously 100 kg that will contribute further to our to build on this success by gaining higher
under the direction of their own sensors space studies. Following this, we aim ranks in the coming years.

12 MAY-06-2024 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS