Turkey’s New Milestone After HİSAR: GÖKDEMİR, the New Jewel of the IRON DOME!
Turkey continues to make significant strides in its defense industry without slowing down. This time, the spotlight is on the GÖKDEMİR Air Defense System, developed by ASELSAN, which is set to become a crucial element of the IRON DOME. This system, which will strengthen Turkey’s defense, is expected to surpass even Norway’s renowned NASAMS system.
Autonomous Air Defense System GÖKDEMİR to Take on the IRON DOME Role
GÖKDEMİR is a brand-new medium-altitude air defense system developed using ASELSAN’s years of accumulated expertise and advanced technologies. The project, conducted under the coordination of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), aims to bolster Turkey’s layered air defense system with domestic and national capabilities.
As emphasized by ASELSAN’s General Manager, Ahmet Akyol, the GÖKDEMİR Air Defense System will operate autonomously. The system will detect and neutralize threats independently, without the need for human intervention.
GÖKDEMİR is equipped with the GÖKDOĞAN missile, which was developed entirely with domestic resources. This missile, developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE, serves the purpose of land-based air defense. GÖKDEMİR has the capability to neutralize a wide range of aerial threats, from fighter jets to unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, and helicopters.
The GÖKDEMİR Launch System will work in full compatibility with ASELSAN’s previous projects, the HİSAR A+ and HİSAR O+ systems. This will create a wide-ranging air defense network, effectively protecting Turkey’s airspace with a steel dome.
Moreover, GÖKDEMİR boasts advanced technological features such as 360-degree threat elimination capability, multi-target engagement, sequential firing abilities, mid-course guidance via data link, and more. The system successfully completed its first live-fire test in June 2022. Integrated into ASELSAN’s Fire Control Device, GÖKDEMİR is expected to become fully operational soon. With a short preparation time for deployment, GÖKDEMİR is ideal for situations requiring rapid response on the battlefield.
This new system from ASELSAN will significantly enhance Turkey’s air defense capacity and provide strategic superiority in the region. As Ahmet Akyol pointed out, the autonomous operation of GÖKDEMİR offers a crucial advantage in the battlefields of the future.
What are your thoughts on these developments? Share your opinions on GÖKDEMİR’s contributions to Turkey’s defense capabilities in the comments section below.