MBDA IS AMBITIOUS IN THE T-LORAMIDS TENDER
In the Turkish Long Range Air and Missile Defence System (T-LORAMIDS) tender, in which the United States, Russia and China are in a cutthroat competition, the world’s 6th largest defence industry holding company, MBDA, among who’s parent company is Finmeccanica, and active in designing and developing missiles and missile systems, is hoping to win this tender and meet all of the requirements of Turkey in this area.
Within this coverage, MBDA recently opened its facilities to Turkish journalists. MBDA officials by showing their production and development facilities in Italy, provided detailed information on primarily their ground- to-air SAMP/T missiles and other products.
The Artillery Antiaircraft Command (COMOCA) barracks were visited and MBDA missiles were inspected on the field. Meeting the members of the press, General Francesco Diella and other officials provided information to the visiting journalists.
In the production center at the La Spezia region of Geneva, development and integration capability for launching systems, missiles and subassembly, in the anti-ship missile systems and also in the anti-surface and anti-air missile systems and Integration and test missile systems anti-ship, anti-air and anti-tank takes place, in the Fusaro production center near Naples missile radars are integrated. In La Speziza Facilities, OTOMAT MK2 Block 4, MARTE MK2/S for Helicopters, MARTE MK2/N for Naval applications, MILAS anti-submarine, MILANanti-tank, FSAF (Missiles Aster P.A., Launchers SAMP/T), MARTE MK2/A (LCA Aircraft),MARTE ER (Extended Range) programmes have been carried out.
The French company Thales and MBDA have jointly formed the EUROSAM firm specializing in missile production.EUROSAM’s prime customer is OCCAR and Italy, France and United Kingdom order FSAF items through OCCAR. OCCAR is in charge of procurement and support contracts for: 17 SAMP-T units, 2 SAAM units and 10 PAAMS units.
In the T-LORAMIDS tender, what has been proposed to Turkey is the ground-to-air missile systems of EUROSAM known as SAMP/T while the sea-to-air systems are named as SAAM and PAAMS systems. SAMP/T missile parts are made by MBDA in Italy while the radar parts are produced by the French company Thales.
Several projects have been analyzed and proposed to the main Turkish Industries by MBDA. Areas of cooperation and partnership have been identified and cover the whole life cycle of the system: common Technical management, Engineering, Development, Design/Redesign and Testing , Production, Integration and Test, After Sales Services
This cooperation has already been presented, discussed with the main Turkish Defence Industries and The relevant Framework agreements have been signed with Aselsan, Roketsan, Havelsan and Ayesas. Further opportunities are being evaluated in order to widen the current Industrial Participation Program.
EUROSAM purpose is to set up a solid and efficient long term Industrial Cooperation with Turkish industries; primary sources in the current Industrial baseline, for TLORAMIDS
and for European /Export markets and Key Partners in future Export business for T-LORAMIDS building blocks.
MBDA: “WE WANT TO DEVELOP THE NEW GENERATION MISSILE LAUNCHERS TOGETHER WITH TURKEY”
Officials of MBDA,working jointly on producing and developing missiles together with the UK, France and Germany and headquartered in Italy, emphasized that in meeting the needs of Turkey’s air defence systems they would act through a joint understanding.
In remarks made to the members of the press, MBDA’s CEO Mr. Antonio Perfetti stated that they had many advantages over their US, Russian and Chinese rivals in the T-LORAMIDS tender and pointed out that the SAMP/T system was the best new product in the integration to NATO’s joint defence system. This system was very compatible with the early warning system AWACS and other local land, sea and air radar control networks but that its most important advantage was that it was compatible with NATO.
Pointing out that Russian and Chinese missiles had compatibility problems with NATO standards, MBDA officials reminded that they had a complete technology export freedom as opposed to the US Patriot missiles.
The same officials emphasized that aside from providing a complete technology transfer without conditions, production would be realized jointly with Turkey. In an intense traffic between Ankara and Rome, Eurosam’s joint Italian missile production partner MBDA stated once again that they would undertake technology transfer to Turkey should they win the tender. The Italian officials stated that with the transfer of technology from Europe in the period ahead, Turkey can produce and sell these missiles under her own license. Pointing out that their objective was “strategic partnership,” Mr. Sergio Cavicchi, VP and responsible for sales said: “We now have a different strategy. The Turkish defence industry is expanding and competition in the world is increasing. If we win the tender we will carry the accumulation of knowledge and technology we have here to Turkey and undertake missile production together. We will market these missiles together to the world as well.” Confessing that in the past they expected only ready made purchases from Turkey, Mr. Cavicchi stated that they had proposed the production of the launcher of the missile to Ankara as well. In addition, the MBDA officials pointed out that if they win the contract, they would permit Turkey to assemble the national programme, that industrial partnership and cooperation opportunities with Turkish companies would increase and that they would have the opportunity to implement the design and development of the missiles together with Turkey.
In the introduction and information session that took place in Italy, MBDA officials emphasized that in the production of the missile systems, Turkish companies could undertake the role of a “primary production country” to third world markets.
FULL MEMBERSHIP IN OCCAR
Turkey, presently as an observer in the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) under the founding nations Germany, France, the UK, Spain, Belgium and Italy, is looked upon favorably as a full member by MBDA officials. In the event that the T-LORAMIDS project is won with Eurosam, they would support full membership to OCCAR as the most effective organization in arms acquisitions, sales and purchases. It is pointed out that Turkey’s membership in this organization would play a significant role in terms of policies as well as in the development of the defence industry.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE SAMP/T MISSILE SYSTEM
The ground-to-air SAMP/T missile system of the Franco-Italian partnered Eurosam consortium is more of a medium range defence system with multi-functional air defence radar and an early warning system integrated into the combat management system that is effective against tactical ballistic missiles such as Scud missiles. Its range covering hundreds of kilometers can be integrated into Turkey’s national network. Furthermore, the system has been designed to be able to integrate to NATO’s network yet it is operable without this integration.
• The system is comprised of four functions: The radar unit, the command control unit, the fire unit and the launcher (firing unit). Each of the system’s functions has 360 degrees control and defence capabilities. It can be loaded on to a truck and sent to the location to be installed. The launchers and missiles can be distributed to terrains and locations within the radio wave coverage.
• The multi-purpose GM 406 radar operates with X bands of very high standards. It can undertake research, detection, friendly-enemy identification, response to IFF codes, target lock in and assault.
•With the assistance of two operators, the launcher with 8 missiles can quickly become operational and directed at the target consecutively within a period of 10 seconds. Each fire unit on the SAMP/T missile system has 8 missile batteries. The system uses the French Aster 30 Block 1 missiles and can stop ballistic missiles having 600 km range. Weighing 510 kg, the Aster 30 missile has a length of 4.2 m and a diameter of 180 mm. The Asters have a solid fuel, two-stage engine.
• The SAMP/T operates in the following manner: The radar system identifies the target and separates friendly and enemy targets. The system notifies the launcher of the target, route, the point of contact with the target and fires the missiles. At a particular time the missile’s radar detects the target and a warning from the control center is not required. The laser adjusts the route according to the target’s route changes and strikes the target with the ‘hit to kill’ method.
