BUYUKCEKMECE, Turkey — Aselsan unveiled its new close-in weapon system during the 2019 International Defence Industry Fair in Turkey — the latest in a grand plan to expand export sales, said CEO Haluk Gorgun.
Aselsan is focusing on Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and South America as key areas for sales.
“Aselsan started by the localization of indigenous devices and moved to exporting its systems worldwide,” Gorgun note, adding that the company’s remote controlled weapon systems are currently exported to 19 different countries. “Every year we update our technological road map and technological plan, which changes depending on the next generation needs. We are using high tech production facilities to give necessary equipment to our army.”
During IDEF, and in the presence of the president of Turkish defense industries Ismail Demir, Aselsan unveiled CIWS GOKDENIZ, the company’s missile defense system for naval platforms. Among the notable features is the ability to load two different types of ammunition into the system, with the preferred ammunition typeselected before the firing through an automated feed mechanism.
The system is able to perform target detection, identification, tracking and kill operations in full autonomous mode. 3D search radar, fire control radar and E/O sensors on the new CIWS allow efficient operation of the system at night and under harsh weather conditions. The system can be operated by an operator or in full autonomous mode without any operator intervention.
The Turkish company showcased more than 300 different products at IDEF at its booth. Those systems range from electro-optics to telecommunications, C4I systems, radars, electronics and electronic warfare. Among the deals closed at teh show was a contract signed between ASELSAN and Spets Techno Export to deliver software defined radios to the Ukraniane armed forces by the end of 2019.
Also, a delivery ceremony of night vision goggles to Gambian Armed Forces was held at the show, as the first sale to Gambia.
Agnes Helou was a Middle East correspondent for Defense News. Her interests include missile defense, cybersecurity, the interoperability of weapons systems and strategic issues in the Middle East and Gulf region.
