Another critical threshold has been crossed in the Turkish Navy's air defence capability. Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, President of the Presidency of Defence Industries, announced that the ASELSAN GÖKDENİZ Close Air Defence System (CIWS), which was developed with domestic facilities, successfully completed the firing tests on the TCG İSTANBUL frigate. The system secured the “last line of defence” of the ships with its performance especially against “sea-skimming” missiles flying very close to the sea.
The biggest nightmare of ships in modern naval warfare is the anti-ship missiles that come just over the horizon and are difficult to detect by radars. This close protection shield, which has been provided by the US Phalanx systems for years, has now been replaced by the ASELSAN engineered GOKDENIZ‘s first national frigate TCG ISTANBUL. According to the information shared by Haluk Görgün, GÖKDENİZ, which was integrated into Turkey's first indigenous frigate TCG İSTANBUL, proved its competence by destroying the target with pinpoint accuracy in a challenging firing test.
This test carries a strategic message that shows not only the success of a weapon system, but also that Turkey has indigenised the entire chain, from the sensor on the ship to the striking power.
Building a Wall of Steel with ATOM Ammunition
The most important feature that distinguishes the GÖKDENİZ system from its competitors lies in the technology of the ammunition coming out of its barrel. Developed by ASELSAN instead of standard projectiles 35 mm ATOM Fragmentation Ammunition the system uses a cloud of shrapnel on the target.
- Smart Ammunition Technology: The ATOM ammunition, programmed as it leaves the barrel, explodes right in front of the target, scattering thousands of tungsten particles. In this way, it can destroy a missile flying close to the speed of sound with the particle cloud it creates, without having to “hit-to-kill”.
- Sea-Skimming Capability: The “sea-skimming” scenario, which Haluk Görgün particularly emphasised, refers to missiles flying 3-5 metres above the water surface and approaching the ship. With its sensitive radar and electro-optical sensors, GÖKDENİZ can detect these targets and engage them autonomously despite wave reflections (clutter).
- Full Autonomous Capability: Human reaction time may be insufficient in the event of an attack. GÖKDENİZ can manage the process of detection, identification, tracking and destruction within seconds without human intervention.
Export to 3 Countries and TCG ISTANBUL Integration
The success of GÖKDENİZ was not limited to the laboratory or test field. The system gained confidence in the international arena even before it became widespread in the Turkish Navy.
According to President Görgün's statement, the system is currently In the inventory of 3 different countries in the defence sector. This proves that the Turkish defence industry not only meets its own needs, but has also become a global player in critical subsystems.
The integration of TCG ISTANBUL is a complementary part of the “National Ship” project. Working in full compatibility with the ship's Combat Management System (ADVENT), GÖKDENİZ creates a multi-layered defence architecture by using data from the ship's other sensors.
Dependence on Foreign Systems Ends
The Turkish Navy, which has been using the US-made Phalanx (20mm) system for many years, has gained a superior system in terms of both range and destructive power with GÖKDENİZ (35mm). GÖKDENİZ will take its place as standard equipment on all new platforms to be built after TCG ISTANBUL (TF-2000 Air Defence Destroyer, new type Offshore Patrol Ships, etc.).
This development strengthens the Navy's hand against possible embargoes and reinforces the deterrence in the Blue Homeland with technological superiority.
