Roketsan Takes Sound Achievements at International Markets with its Advanced Missile Systems
Defence Turkey:It is seen that Roketsan has taken significant achievements in 2009. In terms of production, investment, R&D activities, how could you evaluate the improvements in figures in 2009? How do you assess Roketsan’s position in 2010?
Despite the global economic crisis in 2009, Roketsan achieved its goals through its competencies, gained respect and accurate market and business development activities and was able to carry its hope and confidence to the future years. Roketsan has reached to 110 Million TL Net Sales in 2009 and has closed the year with 14.1 Million TL profit. 12 projects were signed which are worth around 350 Million US Dollars in 2009. Moreover, we signed projects worth more than 1 billion dollars in 2009 which will create work and earnings for many years to come. Although the global market has witnessed the most serious economical crisis of the last century, Roketsan was able to increase its manpower around %20 through correct analysis, evaluation, planning, and incremental business volume.
Defence Turkey:What are your intended plans and targets in relation to marketing and export on international platforms?
Approximately 10 % of our 2009 revenues has been realised by export activities and for the medium term we are aiming to increase this proportion up to 20 %. It is foreseen that this aim will be easily reached with our ongoing marketing activities. Our products and projects cover a wide range from 107 mm small calibre conventional artillery rockets to; 2.75” semi-active laser guided missile CIRIT which is going to be a trendsetter in its global market, as well as Long Range Antitank Missile System - LRAT, Medium Range Antitank Missile System - MRAT, all kinds of launching systems including simulators and support systems to these systems and turn-key munitions disposal facility.
Defence Turkey:What is the current situation of the programme that you carried out in UAE? Could you elaborate the priority districts in terms of export?
Roketsan has established close relationship with UAE since early of 2000s. We have signed contracts concerning 122 mm artillery rocket sales and modernization of the weapon systems in the inventory of UAE. These contracts have been completed last year with the final deliveries. Roketsan’s superior performance in these projects brought consequent projects with UAE. Roketsan and Al Jaber Group started to design a completely new and different weapon system for a Gulf country with an agreement signed in IDEX 2009. We can easily say that this new system is an unprecedented weapon system.
With the contract signed between Roketsan and Burkan Munition Systems (BMS), a joint production venture was formed. Roketsan and BMS will co-produce 107 and 122 mm artillery rockets in the scope of the production programme of this contract.
Defence Turkey:Could you please enlighten us about the cooperation with Kongsberg and other global companies concerning joint production and joint R&D?
Roketsan’s responsibility in the contract signed in 2009 between Roketsan and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) is to manufacture and qualify the launcher system for Naval Strike Missile (NSM) based on Norwegian Royal Navy requirements and deliver it to Kongsberg. Development and testing stages are continued in accordance to the project and contract requirements and deliveries will start in 2011. Roketsan and KDA has been negotiating on increasing the number of launchers.
Defence Turkey:It is known that you are one of the companies that are competing for the 2.75” Guided Missile market. Could you please inform us about ROKETSAN’s capabilities and technology in this field?
Roketsan’s 2.75” Laser Guided Missile, denominated as “Cirit” in our company, is a 2.75” (70 mm) calibre semi-active laser guided rocket and is mainly developed for use on T129 attack helicopter. It has 8 km range and a Tri-mode warhead including anti armour, anti personnel and incendiary. Cirit differs from its competitors in terms of range, warhead, and insensitive munitions capability. Other than helicopters, Cirit can be mounted to land and fixed-wing air vehicles.
Roketsan is still working on qualifying the production line for Cirit missile. Successfully accomplishing the qualification phase, Roketsan will complete all the duties defined in the contract was signed with MOD.
Defence Turkey:At what level are the design studies of medium and long range guided antitank missile systems? What are the technical features and technological advantages of the missile systems being developed in this context?
The Second Phase of Long Range Antitank Missile (UMTAS) Project started in 2008 in parallel with the ATAK Project. Second phase of studies basically include system and sub-system development, verification and qualification of the production line and it is proceeding as planned. Recently, another important step was also taken after the successful “controlled missile” firings. We will continue to work hard on ground and flight tests in the forthcoming terms.
The Second-Phase of Medium Range Antitank Missile (OMTAS) Contract was signed with Undersecretaries of Defence Industries in July 2010. This project is planned to be finalized within 32 months.
Not only Roketsan but also other domestic defence companies gain significant capabilities with these two projects. Both missile systems have the ability to transfer the seeker image to the operator by bilateral communicating with RF data link. Thus, the operator has the ability to select or change the target. Other than these, in all the stages of sub-system development, it is essential to meet the important and challenging requirements of the project,. As an example, the flight motor of UMTAS is the longest burning thrust system ever developed by Roketsan.
Both missiles will have imaging infrared seeker and RF data link. Both systems will be 160 mm caliber and have top attack ability. The range of UMTAS is determined to be 8 kms and the range of OMTAS is determined to be 4 kms. Besides terminal guidance, UMTAS and OMTAS missiles have MEMS based inertial measuring unit interphase guidance.
Control of both missile systems is implemented by moving aerodynamic surfaces with the use of electromechanical control actuation systems. Warhead of both systems is developed against reactive armours. In both systems solid propellant technology will be used for the thrust system and both systems will have launch and flight motors.
As you can see, Roketsan is developing both UMTAS and OMTAS, having similar technological characteristics and common sub-systems, such as seeker and warheads.
Defence Turkey:Within the scope of National Tank Project, ROKETSAN has been determined as the sub-contractor on the subject. Can you inform us about the current situation on this project?
Roketsan has taken responsibility for development, qualification and prototype production of ALTAY armour system as well as building a national Ballistic Protection Center which gathers together armour design, prototype production and test infrastructures under the same roof and presents effective protection solutions that would meet the Turkish Armed Forces requirements to eliminate possible future threats.
Ballistic Protection Center’s design infrastructure, equipment and module prototype buildings, closed ballistic laboratories and construction of open test area located in Sereflikochisar are completed. We are still working on the installation of some of the necessary equipment, in accordance with our project activity planning.
Conceptual armour design studies are completed within the scope of project design works, Initial development tests based on design are performed in Ballistic Protection Center Open Armour Test Area by using Armour Modules produced by the infrastructure of Ballistic Protection Center. Our studies on Armour Pre-Design proceed in the light of data gathered from tests in accordance with the project calendar.
Defence Turkey:Could you please inform us about your studies and objectives dedicated on Space field?
Roketsan is currently working on the thrust system design and the components of the satellite for the GOKTURK Project.
