The activities within the scope of the contract signed between Aselsan and the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries on 29 December 2017 regarding “35 mm Air Defense System Modernization and Procurement of Airburst Ammunition” were initiated with the signing ceremony held on 15 January 2018. Undersecretary for Defense Industries Prof. İsmail Demir and many senior officials from SSM and the Turkish Armed Forces attended the ceremony. 

The systems to be produced under this contract shall be delivered to the Turkish Land & Air Forces. These systems merit “Missile Hunter” rank with the live firing trials conducted on December 1st, 2015. During the trials, effectiveness of Aselsan systems against air-to-ground missiles was successfully demonstrated with a highly challenging test scenario. The Air Defense Fire Control System (FCS), 35 mm Modernized Air Defense Guns and 35 mm Airburst Ammunition are all uniquely designed and developed by Aselsan.

Within the scope of the “35 mm Air Defense System Modernization and Procurement of Airburst Ammunition” Project, the serial production activities of the 35 mm Towed Guns and 35 mm Airburst Ammunition (ATOM), which were developed by Aselsan, the first samples of which were delivered to the Land Forces Command in 2016, will be conducted. In addition, the Battery Command Control Center (BKKM) for the Land Forces Command and the Battery Command Control Operation Center (BKKHM) for the Air Forces Command will be developed and mass produced as top-level command control elements of such systems.

The systems included in the Land Forces Command’s inventory in June 2016 made a strong impression by directly hitting the target airplanes during the “Ateş Serbest 2017” operation conducted on 20 October 2017.    

The 35 mm Airburst Ammunition “ATOM” is accepted as one of the components of the air defense system developed by Aselsan having an active role in ensuring high effectiveness against contemporary air threats. The 35 mm Airbusrt Intelligent Ammunition, the development activities of which were initiated with the contract signed with SSM in 2010, was developed by Aselsan together with MKEK and Tübitak-SAGE. The contract signed is a first for Turkey, as it involves the mass production of intelligent ammunition, developed entirely in the country, for use in barreled weapons.

Towed Air Defense Gun System Platoon is designed to conduct low altitude air defense of military bases and critical assets mainly against air to ground missiles, cruise missiles and UAVs, as well as fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. All sub-systems from radar to smart ammunition are all developed with the latest technology by Aselsan. These air defense systems together with smart ammunition are among the most advanced low altitude air defense systems in the world. 

The Serial Production Activities of “Korkut” System Gaining Momentum 

Serial production of “Korkut” Self-Propelled Air Defense Gun System is also ongoing successfully since 2016.

The “Korkut” Air Defense Gun System is developed for the effective air defense of mechanized troops and mobile units. The system has fire on-the-move capability with a stabilized and unmanned gun turret. The “Korkut” Gun System has capability of firing 35 mm Airburst Ammunition (ATOM) in addition to the conventional type 35 mm munitions. The “Korkut” Gun System –together with ATOM- highly improves the effectiveness of ground based air defense against modern air threats including air-to-ground missiles, cruise missiles and UAVs.