An Aselsan Hisar medium-range air defence missile system launcher at IDEF 2015. Source: Nick de Larrinaga
Turkish military electronics specialist Aselsan has displayed its Hisar range of short- and medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems for the first time at IDEF 2015 in Istanbul.
The range includes the Hisar-A short-range SAM system, the Hisar medium-range SAM system, and a new fire control system (FCS) for SAM batteries. These have been developed by Aselsan as prime contractor for the programmes under a contract awarded by the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) in 2011.
Hisar-A is based on an FNSS ACV-30 tracked vehicle chassis armed with four Roketsan Hisar-A SAMs. Formerly known as T-Laladmis, the tracked Hisar-A system mounts its own mast-mounted air surveillance radar and an electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) system, allowing it to operate as an independent standalone system without the need to operate as a battery with a separate FCS. The Hisar-A system is manned by a crew of three: two control personnel and a driver for the vehicle.
Hisar-A is currently in its subsystem test phase, having completed its system definition phase, company representatives told IHS Jane's at IDEF. Full tests of the complete system are expected to begin next year. Currently three prototypes of the Hisar-A system have been completed, with delivery of the first systems to the Turkish military for qualification planned for 2017.
Roketsan officials at the exhibition told IHS Jane's that the Hisar-A missile (previously known as AIHSF) has a maximum altitude of 5 km and a maximum overall range of 15 km (at sea level). Roketsan is subcontractor to Aselsan for both Hisar missiles, responsible for the all-up rounds, including their launch canisters.
The medium-range Hisar system (previously known as T-Maladmis) is based on a wheeled Mercedez-Benz chassis equipped with six Roketsan Hisar-O missiles.
This system is designed to operate as a battery in concert with the Aselsan FCS, which is equipped with a mobile search radar, EO/IR system, and targeting radar. The Hisar-O missile has a maximum altitude of 10 km and a maximum range of 25 km at sea level.
Development/company trials of the Hisar system are expected to be completed by 2018.
Ballistic flight tests of the Hisar-A missile occurred in October 2013, with Hisar-O following in August 2014. The two missiles have been designed to feature a high degree of commonality, and share the same infrared (IR) seeker (developed by Aselsan), the same high explosive fragment warhead (being developed by Tubitak Sage), and the same impact and proximity fuze.
The missiles also share the same interface with their launch canister and the same umbilical connection. As well, there are high levels of technological commonality in the missiles' motor, control section, power supply, datalink, guidance, and safe/arm device. Both missiles are mid-course guided by radio-frequency datalink and feature terminal IR guidance.
Both missiles are hard launched vertically from their canister and powered by a dual pulse solid propellant motor. This provides an initial pulse for launch and mid-course flight, and a final sprint pulse during the terminal guidance phase for increased speed. They also both feature a hybrid control actuation system, with the missiles' external control surfaces providing midcourse guidance while thrust-vectoring jet vanes within the rocket's nozzle provide additional manoeuvrability in the missiles' terminal phase.
The Hisar-A and Hisar-O missiles will continue their flight test programme over the next two years. While company officials were not able to disclose how many flight tests are planned, the next phases of the trials will include control tests, vertically launched control tests, seeker guidance tests, and qualification tests.
Aselsan officials also said that the Korkut self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) system, also based on the FNSS ACV-30 tracked chassis and unveiled at IDEF 2013, has almost completed its test programme. Field tests have already been conducted against air and ground targets, and customer qualification trials are expected to begin in 2016. The company hopes that a serial production contract for Korkut will be signed in 2015.
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IDEF 2015: Aselsan displays Hisar air defence systems - IHS Jane's 360