Turkey tests short-range naval air defense system

12 October, 2024 A Levent short-range air defense missile system during testing. Photo: Roketsan Turkey has tested a new Levent short-range naval anti-aircraft missile system.

This was reported on the official page of Roketsan on X. The tests were conducted by Roketsan on October 10, 2024, during which the rocket complex successfully launched its first missile. It is worth noting that the test launcher was equipped with four radar antennas and an optical search and targeting station.

This combination of equipment made it possible to render the system completely independent of the ship's radar stations, allowing it to search, track and fire on air targets independently. However, the manufacturer notes that to reduce the cost, it is possible to use the system without integrated search capabilities by integrating the missile system into the ship's combat system.

Roketsan states that the system is a representative of the small-sized shipboard air defense systems, the main task of which is to provide direct protection of the ship at ranges up to 10 km. The air defense system is equipped with 11 Sungur missiles with an infrared homing head (IHH), which are an upgraded version of the missiles used in the man-portable air defense system. The missile has a diameter of 128 mm and a range of 11 kilometers.

Test launch of a missile from a Levent anti-aircraft missile system.

Photo: Roketsan

It should be noted that the Levent naval air defense system is an analog of the German-American SeaRAM air defense system, which is currently used by the surface ships to provide short-range air defense. It uses modernized AIM-92 missiles, which are equipped with an infrared homing head from AIM-9 air-to-air missiles. If the Levent air defense system is adopted and installed on the surface ships of the Turkish Navy, it will provide the military component with a domestic system that will allow for independent production and export.

Earlier, Militarnyi reported that the Kara Atmaca surface-to-surface missile system had successfully hit a target at a long range during the latest tests.