Commanding advantage Aselsan

COMMANDING ADVANTAGE

Aselsan is an international defence electronics company whose command control systems offer unique operational advantages thanks to its latest electro-optics and advanced avionics systems, as Philip Yorke reports.

Aselsan was founded in Turkey in 1975 in order to meet the communication needs of the Turkish Armed Forces. Today Aselsan has become a world leader in the manufacture of a broad range of defence electronics systems including radar and electronic warfare, electro-optics, avionics, unmanned systems, missile defence systems and command and control systems. As a major exporter, Aselsan invests in international markets via its global network of local partners and is rated as one of the top 100 defence companies in the world.

Leading in remote weapon systems

Aselsan, as the leading defence systems manufacturer of Turkey, is also among the top producers of Remote Weapon Systems in the world, with its production capacity of more than 100 systems per month and its exports to 18 countries worldwide. Today, over 3,000 Remote Weapon Systems developed by Aselsan are successfully being used by the Armed Forces of many different countries. Most of these advanced systems are field-proven as they are being actively used in counter terror operations in Turkey and elsewhere throughout the world.

The company’s latest remote defence system offering is the SarpZafer, which allows troops to change or load their ammunition from the inside of a vehicle. With this unique system, there is no need for operators to go outside the protection of the armour-clad vehicle. This provides a major advantage in the battlefield, enabling counterfire against asymmetric threats under much safer conditions.

According to the information received from the company, the system has been developed to be used with small and medium calibre machine guns and can detect the direction, range and coordinates of hostile fire, thanks to its integrated ‘Gunshot Detection System’.

With its high hit accuracy, the system is designed to be integrated into any type of wheeled or tracked armoured vehicle. It can also be used as a stationary defence vehicle to protect critical assets. Furthermore, it can be wireless mounted on unmanned vehicles.

Through its advanced electro-optical suite and fire control computers, the system provides automatic target tracking and detection functions in all day/night weather conditions. It also provides highly accurate ballistic calculations that result in optimal first-round hit successes.

Among the other advanced products in Aselsan’s range of Remote Controlled Weapon Systems, is Sarp-Dual which can be equipped with two weapons at the same time, and Sarp-NSV, which is equipped with a Russian 12.7 mm NSV machine gun.

Driving force for local technologies

For many years, Aselsan has been the driving force that supports the production of Turkey’s local technologies. Its latest 4.5G mobile antennas were brought by Turkcell, the country’s leading utility and communications company as the cornerstone of its 4.5G network installations. Following the announcement, local antennas have already started serving customers through the new, live 4.5G network. Produced exclusively by Aselsan, the antennas were configured to suite the Pendik field in Istanbul.

With the installation, Turkcell has become the first operator in Turkey to deploy local 4.5G mobile antennas in its network.

Joining forces with Aselsan for its advanced technical requirements, Turkcell has also played an active role in the development of 4.5G mobile antennas. Trials with prototypes started in 2016, and the live field trials with the prototypes were conducted in Ankara

SMAG Mobile Antenna Masts

Customized solutions up to 40m without guy wires

SMAG Mobile Antenna Masts is worldwide the leading manufacturer for electromechanical and hydraulic operating Mobile Antenna Masts up to a height of 40m that do not require any kind of guy wires. The masts have been manufactured in Salzgitter/Germany since as early as 1974 and more than 1900 mast systems are used across the world for communication, data transmission, border control, securing points or areas of interest, observation, reconnaissaince and jamming.

SMAG Mobile Atenna Masts comply with Military and European regulations, as well as safety standards and provide highest mobility, even in rough terrain and can be operated in intermediate heights.

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SMAG Mobile Antenna Masts with their core competence: Welding of steel and aluminum according to defense technology requirements, is the competent partner in all questions relating to mobile antenna masts and offers also special services, e. g. modernisation and refit solutions according to new technical and economical requirements.

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and Istanbul in 2017. Following the signing of the contract last year, the procurement agreement was subsequently adopted for 2030 antennas to be installed across the country.

“Aselsan has worked to supply local and national communication systems since 1975. We proudly announce that our ‘4.5G Base Station Antenna Production Project’ in association with Turkcell, today started to serve live national networks,” said Bayram Genccan, Vice President of Communication & Information Technologies at Aselsan.

“We have reached a level where we compete with global competitors. The improvement process will expedite as we receive field information with the installment of antennas in live networks. With Turkcell’s local support, we plan to incorporate our experience and knowledge in 4.5G to develop products during the 5G era,” added Genccan. “In the first installment phase 1000 4.5G mobile antennas will be configured to Turkcell’s 250 base stations by the end of the year.”

Helicopter programme lifts off

US helicopter firm Sikorsky has recently transferred a S-70i Black Hawk helicopter to Aselsan for use as the prototype aircraft for the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP). The aircraft will enable Sikorsky to integrate an Aselsan-developed avionics suite into Turkey’s new T70 utility helicopter, and later into Turkish-built Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk aircraft to be sold internationally.

Called the Integrated Modular Avionics System (IMAS), the new avionics suite is a collaborative design by Aselsan, Sikorsky, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and pilots serving the Turkish Armed Forces to meet the requirements of Turkish T70 operators and other potential customers.

TAI leads a team of Turkish aerospace companies that will build at least 109 helicopters with the T70 designation for the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program. The IMAS suite will be produced in time for initial deliveries of T70 aircraft to Turkish end users in 2021.

Today Aselsan and Sikorsky are co-developing the IMAS suite to provide Turkish pilots with powerful smart displays, point-andclick functionality to speed input of pilot commands, and ergonomic enhancements to the Pilot Vehicle Interface that will reduce pilot workload.

Navigational improvements tailored to Turkish requirements will include an integrated Terrain Avoidance Warning System, an integrated advanced digital map, and coupled flight control functions for guided approaches to landing zones.

The TUHP program is valued at approximately USD 3.5 billion for 109 T70 aircraft, inclusive of the work to be performed by Sikorsky, TAI and other suppliers. n

For further details of Aselsan’s latest innovative electronic defence systems visit: www.aselsan.com.tr