These are the milestones of Turkey’s full independence in the defense industry.
Turkey’s first national cruise missile, first air-to-air missile system, first thermal battery… TÜBİTAK Defense Industry Research and Development Institute has achieved many firsts and will continue to do so.
“To make Turkey fully independent and to be active on a global scale with innovative technologies in the Defense Industry.”
“National R&D for national defense”
TÜBİTAK SAGE was established in 1972 as the Guided Vehicles Technology and Measurement Center. It was named Ballistic Research Institute in 1983, and Defense Industry Research and Development Institute in 1988.
Since the day it was founded, TÜBİTAK SAGE has mainly been working on guided / unguided ammunition and missile systems. It provides products, information, infrastructure and qualified manpower to the defense industry.
The institute, which has broken grounds with the critical ammunition systems it has developed, continues its studies without slowing down so that Turkey can look to the future with confidence.
“TÜBİTAK SAGE is the R&D office of our defense industry”
We asked the Director of the Institute, Gürcan Okumuş, about the studies and future projects of TÜBİTAK SAGE. Okumuş says that they are in an effort to bring imported products and ammunition systems, which we depend on abroad, to our country through R&D.
“TÜBİTAK SAGE is the R&D office of our defense industry, we can define it that way. The main task of this R&D office is to focus on developing systems that do not exist in Turkey, but that we have to buy from abroad. The systems we have developed are produced serially by different organizations of our defense industry.
The products developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE create a turnover of approximately 9 billion TL for our defense industry. In this sense, both products are produced domestically and a very large import item is prevented.”
Informing that the first steps of the defense industry in Turkey started in the 1970s, Okumuş explains that the domesticity rate, which was around 20-25 percent, has reached 80 percent in recent years.
Gürcan Okumuş, “Why is full independence so important in the defense industry?” He answers the question as follows:
“In terms of ensuring the independence of our country, first of all, independence in the defense industry. At this point, we are doing our best.”
TÜBİTAK SAGE will continue to mark many firsts with its “National R&D for national defense” approach.
TOROS
Turkey’s first national land-to-ground artillery rocket system
Within the scope of the TOROS Project, TOROS 230 with a range of 65 kilometers and TOROS 260 unguided ammunition with a range of 110 kilometers were developed.
- TOROS has a conventional warhead and solid fuel rocket engine.
- It provides the shooting support needed not only for close combat but also for deep operation.
- It fills the gap between barreled artillery and tactical ballistic missile systems.
- The enemy’s field-scattered combat force destroys critical targets such as assembly zones, artillery and rocket units, transportation centers, logistics tests, command and control centers, air defense systems, missile batteries, airports, industrial facilities.
HGK & KGK
Turkey’s first national guided ammunition systems
All products of the HGSS precision guidance kit family, completely developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE, entered the Air Force Command inventory.
Precision Guidance Kits (HGK)
- The HGSS family, which has achieved great success with its low CEP value in all weather conditions by turning MK-82, MK-83 and MK-84 General Purpose Bombs into smart ammunition, is one of the indispensable systems of TAF operations.
- Multi-launch guidance kit with BRU 57 adapter that converts HGK-82, MK-82 general purpose bombs into ammunition with smart and accurate strike capability from air to ground with KKS / ANS guidance system.
- Multi-firing guidance kit with BRU 57 adapter that converts HGK-83, MK-83 general purpose and SARB-83 sequential piercing bombs into ammunition with smart and precise strike capability from air to ground with KKS / ANS guidance system.
- Guidance kit that converts HGK-84, MK-84 general purpose bombs and Penetrating Bombs (NEB) into ammunition with intelligent and precise strike capability from air to ground with ANS / KKS guidance system.
- Guidance kit that converts LHGK-84, MK-84 general purpose bombs and penetrating bombs into an intelligent weapon that can be dropped from air to land with KKS / ANS and laser guidance system and can be used against both fixed and moving targets.
Wing Guidance Kits (UPS)
The UPS is a winged guidance kit that converts existing unguided 1000 lb MK-83 and 500 lb MK-82 general purpose bombs into air-to-ground long-range smart ammunition.
- Existing bombs gain precise strike capability when dropped from a distance of over 100 kilometers in all weather conditions. This allows the planes to complete their missions safely without approaching dangerous zones.
- The objectives of the UPS: Fixed air defense systems, fixed positioned radars, aircrafts parked in the open, energy facilities and transmission lines, industrial facilities, operational buildings, hangars, anchored ships, bridges, etc. goals.
Completed by TÜBİTAK SAGE in 2014, the KGK ammunition is the most successful example of its kind in the world in terms of forward range and strike success.
The UPS has the ability to follow defined waypoints on the ground or in the air by means of mission planning.
Tendürek
Turkey’s First National Thermobaric Explosive Bomb
Within the scope of the TENDÜREK Project, the PBP-003 Thermobaric Explosive and the PBP-003 implanted thermobaric type (MK-82-T) of the MK-82 General Purpose Bomb were developed.
PBP 003 is a plastic-bonded thermobaric explosive containing over 20 percent metal powder by weight.
The pressure pulse released by the explosion creates a higher impact and pressure effect in closed areas such as caves, shelters, tunnels and headquarters.
The heat released as a result of the combustion of metal powders increases the volume, temperature and decay time of the flame released as a result of the explosion, increasing the destructive power of the explosive with the effect of heat on the target.
NEB & SARB-83 & SERT-82
NEB-84 is the first concrete piercing bomb with sequential piercing warhead technology developed in Turkey.
- Thanks to the sequential piercing warhead technology, higher penetration efficiency and success at lower angles have been increased.
- Development work of SARB-83 has been completed and platform integration activities continue.
Development work of SARB-83 has been completed and platform integration activities continue.
Development work of SERT-82, which is the only single piercing member of the piercing ammunition family, continues simultaneously with these activities.
SOM
Turkey’s First National Cruise Missile
SOM missile; Medium-range, air-to-surface cruise missile that enables targets to be hit with great accuracy without entering the effective range of air defense systems, capable of effectively attacking fixed / stationary surface and mobile surface targets.
SOM-A and SOM-B1 missiles have been in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces since 2011.
Verification studies of SOM-B2 with sequential penetrating warheads, SOM-C1 / C2 with added capability against surface targets and data link capabilities, and development of SOM-J variants developed in accordance with the new generation warplanes continue.
GÖKTUĞ
Turkey’s First National Air-to-Air Missile System
Gökdoğan & Bozdoğan
Within the scope of the GÖKTUĞ Project, two new missiles are being developed: In-Sight Missile-Bozdoğan with a short-range high-maneuverable infrared imager seeker head, and the Beyond-Vision Missile-Gökdoğan with an active radar seeker head.
The air-to-air missiles developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE are not only Turkey’s first national air-to-air missile system, but also the first Active Radar Seeker Headed Missiles.
With the Invisible and Beyond Vision Air-Air Missiles, the air dominance of the Turkish Air Force will be increased.
ISIL PİL
Turkey’s First National Thermal Battery
TÜBİTAK SAGE is Turkey’s only thermal battery supplier. The institute started to develop thermal battery technology in 2002 in order to reduce foreign dependency in national projects. Thermal cell technology has been developed entirely using domestic resources.
TÜBİTAK SAGE has designed and produced many thermal batteries with different technical features so far. The products are qualified in accordance with international military standards.
Thermal battery; It is widely used as the main power source in guidance kits, fuzes, missiles, acoustic decoy / decoys, guided artillery ammunition and aircraft seat launch systems.
There is no alternative to thermal batteries in military applications where requirements such as wide operating temperature range, long shelf life, maintenance-free during shelf life, fast triggering, self-exhaustion, high reliability, resistance to harsh environmental conditions and high energy density must be met at the same time.
ATLAS AÖB
Turkey’s First National Inertial Measurement Unit
TÜBİTAK SAGE can develop Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) in line with its needs.
Electronic hardware, software, mechanics, algorithm and calibration designs of the meter were developed by SAGE.
The inertial measurement unit, which is one of the most critical components of ammunition systems that we are dependent on abroad, was brought to our country with the ATLAS AÖB family developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE, and a system procured from abroad was localized.
ATLAS AÖB, balance platforms, mission critical applications, missile guidance technologies, various weapons such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), military, air, space, sea, land, etc. can be used successfully in applications. Also suitable for use in commercial applications.
KÂŞİF
Turkey’s First National Global Positioning System Receiver
KÂŞİF, global positioning system receiver with military features developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE.
RF, electronic hardware, software and algorithm designs of KÂŞİF were carried out by TÜBİTAK SAGE.
Equipment of the receiver; It supports the use of GPS L1 / L2, GLONASS L1 and GALILEO E1 signals. A solution is produced by following the GPS L1 signals with the existing FPGA and software.
It is planned to produce versions that work with different satellite systems.
KONUM01
Turkey’s First National Global Positioning System Antenna in Compliance with Military Standards
KONUM01 is an active antenna with military features, operating in Global Positioning System (GPS) L1 / L2 bands.
It has a structure that can be easily integrated into military platforms and can operate under harsh environmental conditions such as high shock and vibration.
The currently developed antenna geometry was determined by taking into account the need for direct integration into existing platforms.
Antenna design and production can be made in suitable geometries according to different ammunition or platform requirements.
CRPA KONUM15
Turkey’s First National Anti-Jamming Global Positioning System in Compliance with Military Standards Antenir Turkey’s First National GPS Antenna in Compliance with Military Standards
Jam Resistant Antenna System is an antenna system that is resistant to electronic jamming threat developed in cooperation with TÜBİTAK SAGE and TUALCOM.
CRPA KONUM-15, which can be used on all platforms, has the feature of working with any GPS receiver without requiring any additional hardware.
HABRAS
Turkey’s First Rail System Dynamic Test Infrastructure
Warhead Rail System Dynamic Test Infrastructure (HABRAS) was established to provide test support to the work carried out in the fields of defense, aviation and space.
With a length of 2 thousand meters, HABRAS is the longest rail test line in Europe with a double rail structure.
HABRAS is a field test infrastructure that allows systems or subsystems to be tested dynamically at subsonic and supersonic speeds, close to real usage conditions or tactical conditions. HABRAS can test very different and various systems / subsystems.
