A few days ago, the Turkish military department announced the first tests of a new anti-aircraft missile system. At the Tuz test site, employees of Roketsan and Aselsan conducted a test launch of an anti-aircraft missile of the promising Hisar-A complex. In the coming years, all test and development work should be completed, after which the new complex can be adopted by the Turkish ground forces.
The T-LALADMIS (Turkish Low Altitude Air Defense Missile Systems) program was launched in 2008. By order of the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the contractor company was supposed to create a short-range air defense system for air defense of troops on the march and in positions. In addition, the terms of the tender included the construction and delivery of several dozen combat and auxiliary vehicles, as well as all the necessary related equipment. The terms of reference for the project were sent to two dozen Turkish companies. In addition, several foreign organizations expressed their desire to participate in the program.
Approximately a year after the start of the program, applications were reviewed, but the choice of a contractor was delayed. Only in 2011, Roketsan became the main contractor for the T-LALADMIS program. In addition, the Aselsan organization was involved in the project. The responsibilities of these companies have been defined as follows. Roketsan specialists were engaged in the development of the rocket and a number of related equipment. In addition, they carried out the overall coordination of the work of the organizations involved in the project. The Aselsan company was entrusted with the development of the main part of the electronic systems. The joint development of the project made it possible by the beginning of 2013 to create a finished project of a promising anti-aircraft missile system called Hisar-A.
According to reports, the Hisar-A air defense system will be a system for air defense of objects and troops. The modular architecture will make it possible to build vehicles of the complex on chassis of various types with wheeled or tracked undercarriage. The anti-aircraft complex will include vehicles with a target detection radar station, a command post, launchers and missiles. It is known from open sources that the Hisar-A air defense system will be able to hit targets at a distance of about 12 kilometers. The altitude range has not yet been named, but the name of the program suggests that when creating an anti-aircraft missile and electronic systems, the need to defeat targets at low and medium altitudes is taken into account.
Among the known details of the project, there is information about a vertical launch rocket. However, during the September test launch, a prototype rocket was launched from an inclined launcher. The reasons for this feature of the tests were not specified. Probably, to date, work has not been completed on missile control systems that allow a full launch from a vertical launcher.
According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, during the tests, the missile successfully left the launcher and reached the target area. All telemetry data fully corresponded to the calculated ones. No new test launches have been reported yet. Probably, after the first tests, the specialists of the companies involved in the Husar-A project will deal with the elimination of the identified deficiencies and fine-tuning the design of the missile itself and the ground systems of the complex.
A lot of time is allotted for this work. At the moment, the work schedule, approved at the very beginning of the T-LALADMIS program, remains relevant. In accordance with it, the next few years are planned to be spent on the completion of the development of an anti-aircraft missile system, tests, etc. work. Approximately by 2015-16, the final tests should begin, based on the results of which a decision will be made on the adoption of the new air defense system for service. The Turkish army intends to receive the first serial Hisar-A complexes in 2017.
With regard to the required number of anti-aircraft systems, the same plans are currently in force as at the beginning of their development. The existing contract with the companies Roketsan and Aselsan implies the supply of 18 complexes consisting of self-propelled radars, control vehicles and self-propelled launchers. In addition, the Turkish ground forces will receive several simulators for the preparation of calculations. In addition to a firm contract for the supply of ready-made anti-aircraft systems, there is an option for an additional 27 complexes. Probably, an additional batch of air defense systems will be ordered if the finished Hisar-A system is completely satisfactory to the customer.
Simultaneously with the Hisar-A project, Roketsan and Aselsan are working on an anti-aircraft complex called Hisar-B, created under the T-MALADMIS (Turkish Midle Altitude Air Defense Missile Systems) program. The purpose of the second project is the creation and construction of a medium-range air defense system capable of complementing the Hisar-A complex in the troops. The timing of the start of tests and the adoption of the Hisar-B complex has not yet been reported. According to reports, the Turkish Ministry of Defense and contractors are currently focusing their efforts on the creation of a short-range anti-aircraft system. They are going to first complete the Hisar-A project and only after that start developing the Hisar-B air defense system, using the experience gained when creating the previous anti-aircraft system.
