Designated as GOKBERK, the advanced system uses laser and electronic warfare to counter UAVs.
Turkey’s ambitions of becoming a major weapons manufacturer in the Middle East may be coming to fruition. The country’s rise in this area is attributed to the Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which has gained notoriety for its extensive role in the ongoing Russian-Ukraine conflict. In addition to drones, Turkey is developing a fully homegrown fifth-generation fighter jet, the TAI TF Kaan, which completed its maiden flight last year. As Ankara continues to build its defense industry, more domestic companies are fielding new weapons systems. This week, the Aselsan defense company successfully tested a new mobile anti-drone air defense weapon. Designated as GOKBERK, the advanced system uses laser and electronic warfare to counter UAVs.
As detailed by the Turkish defense company, Aselan “continues to take important steps in the field of directed energy weapons, one of the new generation technologies. Previously proven effective against rotary- and fixed-wing kamikaze drones, GÖKBERK now showcased its advanced capabilities by detecting, autonomously tracking, and eliminating FPV drones across multiple test scenarios, demonstrating exceptional speed and precision in engagement.”
Drone warfare has been on the rise in recent years, arguably beginning with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Lethal and reconnaissance UAVs have also proven to be instrumental assets for both Moscow and Kyiv in achieving their respective war efforts. Russian forces deploy primarily Iranian-designed drones to target critical infrastructure, residences, and other facilities across Ukraine, while Ukrainian troops have successfully been able to destroy countless enemy armored vehicles, main battle tanks, and even naval assets with their arsenal of domestic and foreign-imported UAVs. In fact, the Turkish-made TB2 loitering drone has been especially helpful in helping Kyiv thwart enemy advances.
Turkey’s pursuit of enhanced air defense systems in light of the growing use of UAVs across the globe makes sense. Designated by Ankara as the Steel Dome, the country’s layered air defense system in development will include GOKBERK down the line. The Steel Dome will function similarly to Israel’s famous Iron Dome system by protecting Turkish airspace against a vast range of projectiles, including missiles, UAVs, and rockets. Aselsan noted that the new system will particularly be deployed to better protect military installations, airports, and critical infrastructure in the country. This impressive project was launched over the summer by the Executive Committee of the Defense Industry in Turkey. According to reports, key players selected to participate in the project include Aselsan, Roketsan, TÜBİTAK SAGE, and MKE. Additionally, local subcontractors will take part in the Steel Dome’s development. As detailed by state-affiliated reports, the Steel Dome system can take out quadcopter-like targets at around 0.93 miles and fixed-wing drones at around 0.75 miles. Other sources state that the air defense system can completely melt a 6 mm steel sheet at 0.37 miles.
As Ankara continues to expand its manufacturing capabilities, the Middle East nation could become a real powerhouse in the defense world.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
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