Turkey launches first national missiles

ANKARA

Turkey has completed the test launch of its first domestically developed and manufactured low altitude air defense missiles, which are aimed at reducing the country’s dependency on foreign defense systems.

The tests were successfully carried out on Oct. 6 and the projections of the missiles were in line with prior calculations, according to a written statement from the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) on Oct. 7.

The missiles, which were tested in a field in Central Anatolia next to the Tuz Gölü (Salt Lake), were developed with the collaboration of Turkey’s two leading defense companies, missile manufacturer Roketsan and defense electronics producer Aselsan.

Under the 717.5-million Turkish Liras ($447.6-million) contract signed between the parties in 2011, Aselsan, the prime contractor, is developing all radar, fire control, command and control and communication systems for the program called HİSAR-A, while Roketsan is acting as the executive sub-contractor. 

The HİSAR-A system, which will provide protection against all kinds of airborne targets thanks to its vertical launch capability will enter the Turkish military inventory in 2017, the SSM statement added.