October 3, 2015 By Burak Ege Bekdil – Defense News

ANKARA — A senior Turkish industry official who coordinates efforts to win back Arabian Gulf markets does not hide his admiration for the country’s foreign policy calculus, calling it  “one with a character.” But he admits that the policy has cost the local defense industry US $2.5 billion in lost contracts with neighboring Muslim countries.

Hakan Kurt is general coordinator for High-Tech Port, which brings together 67 top Turkish defense companies, most from the aerospace, naval systems, information technology, missile systems, defense engineering and armored vehicles sectors. High-Tech Port companies will display their systems at an eponymous exhibition in Qatar Oct. 6-8, hoping to penetrate further into the lucrative Arabian Gulf markets.

“Only in one shot, Roketsan lost a $700 million contract,” Kurt said,  declining to name the  country from which the state-controlled missile maker would have won that contract. 

“Democracy or not, we are not responsible for the [monarchic] regimes in Gulf countries," he said. "For us, they represent lucrative future markets.”

Turkish companies that come under the corporate identity of High-Tech Port target exports to Gulf countries worth $5 billion in the next 10 years and $20 billion in the next 20 years. They hope Qatar will play the role of a bridge to export indigenous systems to the region. Prospective Gulf markets include Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, which are considered the most promising sources of new business for Turkish companies, and Qatar, Turkey's closest regional ally. Early this year Turkey and Qatar signed a comprehensive military accord that gives both countries the right to deploy soldiers in each other’s territory and includes cooperation in military training, defense industry and joint military drills.

Turkey’s defense exports in 2014 rose 17.7 percent to an all-time high of $1.65 billion. They were at a mere $600 million in 2008.

Since the immediate aftermath of the Arab Spring of 2010-12, Turkey has opted for an assertive regional foreign policy, trying to help build Muslim Brotherhood-backed or similar democratically elected Islamist governments in Arab countries. Ankara also downgraded in 2010 its diplomatic ties with former ally Israel. Many analysts observe that Turkey’s regional policies are deeply pro-Muslim Brotherhood, anti-Israeli and sectarian, favoring Sunni groups against Shiite.

“Many Arab countries today view Turkey as a liability rather than an asset despite common religion,” said one London-based Middle East expert. “It may take Turkey several years to build meaningful alliances in the region.”

In Syria, Turkey strongly advocates the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad. The two neighbors do not have diplomatic relations. In Egypt, Turkey supports the ousted Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammad Morsi and does not recognize the legitimacy of incumbent President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The government does not agree that its policy in the region has had any effect on Turkish companies' contracts or lack thereof among Arab countries.

“We don’t see a direct link between our regional policy and defense sales," a Turkish Foreign Ministry official said. "Our defense and related exports [in general] have been on the rise before, during and after the Arab Spring."

One senior Turkish defense company official said that  Turkey's diplomatic rows with Egypt cost his company a $250 million contract in Egypt.

Two of Turkey’s Shiite-dominated neighbors, Iran and Iraq, view Turkey with deep suspicion because of its pro-Sunni sectarian policies. So does multi-religious Lebanon.

In north Africa, both Tunisia’s government and Libya’s officially recognized government maintain distant relations  with Turkey’s ruling Islamist party, the Justice and Development Party.

Similarly, Turkey’s pro-Muslim Brotherhood policies have pushed Gulf countries Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) away from its industrial sphere of influence. In contrast, Qatar has remained Turkey’s best regional ally since the beginning of the Arab Spring.

“By a simple count, you can easily reach the conclusion that Turkey’s foreign policy over the past five years has created deep fault lines with Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Yemen," one senior Turkish industry source said. "That makes a total of 11 countries, otherwise potentially a huge market for Turkey.” 

But an Arab diplomat in Ankara thinks that some rapprochement, particularly with Saudi Arabia, which recently has softened its stance against the Muslim Brotherhood, may improve Turkish-Saudi ties.

“Better ties with the Kingdom and other Gulf states would require Turkey to recalibrate its policies,” he said.

23/05/2014 MBDA

MBDA Deutschland GmbH and Roketsan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a collaboration in manufacturing and integration of a 70mm guided weapon system.

Under the terms of the agreement signed at the ILA Berlin Air Show the two companies will initiate the exchange of business and technical information for a guided weapon system based on the 70mm rocket concept for the German UH Tiger. Both companies aim to provide a solution for an expected German Army requirement for this helicopter.

The MoU was signed by MBDA Deutschland GmbH Managing Director, Thomas Homberg and Roketsan CEO & President, Selcuk Yasar.

Thomas Homberg said: "The already existing cooperations between Roketsan and MBDA will be extended by this focused initiative. We are combining our competencies to jointly providing this required capability to the German Armed Forces."

Selcuk Yasar said: “We believe that with this cooperation we will be able to offer an enhanced weapon system to the German customer by bringing together the capabilities of Cirit, 2,75” Laser Guided Missile and MBDA Deutschland GmbH’s proven expertise on the platforms’ weapon management systems. We hope the result of this initiative will lead to a broader business cooperation between the two companies in the future.”

12/03/2014 by Paul Fiddian - Armed Forces International's Lead Reporter

State-owned Turkish weapons manufacturer Roketsan has tested a new air-launched anti-tank missile design, with successful results.

The MIZRAK-U test launch involved a Cobra AH-1S attack helicopter and took place over a 3.5 kilometre range. The missile successfully engaged with its designated target, paving the way for further trials and eventual entry-into-service, all being well.

Once in service, the MIZRAK-U missile will equip the Turkish Land Forces' TAI/AgustaWestland T129 attack helicopters, examples of which are currently being delivered.

The TAI/AgustaWestland T129 is based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta helicopter, which first flew in the mid-1980s. Harnessing the preceding design's airframe, it features advanced avionics and weapons systems developed in Turkey, plus more powerful engines and rotor blades. Six examples have been built, with 54 more set to ultimately join the Turkish Land Forces.

MIZRAK-U Missile

The MIZRAK-U missile is designed to strike targets with up to eight kilometres separation. It will be put into full-scale production from 2015 onwards and boasts an infrared seeker, a high-explosive warhead and other features.

Also now in development is a medium-range variant, named MIZRAK-O. This has a range of four kilometres but, otherwise, shares many characteristics.

The Turkish Land Forces has existed in its modern form since July 1949. In recent years, it has employed around 400,000 personnel and participated in numerous conflicts and, for more than two decades, has been continually introducing new military technologies into service.

Turkish Anti-Tank Missile

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters serve with the Turkish Ground Forces in greater numbers than any other rotary platform but it also operates 37 AH-1 SuperCobra and 30 AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters, of the type used in the Turkish anti-tank missile test.

Roketsan was established in 1988 and produces rockets, missiles, mortars and other weapons. It is also involved in a programme through which Turkey's satellite launch capability will expand. The nation's Space Launch System project will involve the construction of a spaceport, satellite launch vehicles and other satellite operations infrastructure.

BAKOU, 27 mai - RIA Novosti

L'Azerbaïdjan lancera prochainement la production de missiles conjointement avec la compagnie turque Roketsan, annonce lundi l'agence APA, se référant à un communiqué publié par Roketsan.

"Dans le cadre de l'accord signé le 8 mai à Istanbul, l'Azerbaïdjan produira des missiles de 107 et 122 millimètres. Roketsan n'étant chargée que de livrer les propulseurs des missiles, tous leurs composants ainsi que leur assemblage seront réalisés par la partie azerbaïdjanaise", indique le communiqué.

La portée des missiles de 122 millimètres sera de 42 kilomètres (deux fois supérieure à celle des missiles russes Grad), alors que la portée de missiles de 107 millimètres sera de 11 kilomètres, soit quatre kilomètres de plus que les missiles analogues fabriqués par la Russie et l'Ukraine.

photo defencetalk.com

Jul 13 2011 trdefence.com

Roketsan is completing development of a trio of guided anti-armour weapons

Turkish Land Forces Command is the main customer, but the missiles will be marketed for exports

Since the mid-1990s Turkey’s Roketsan has firmly established itself in the design, development and production of unguided surface-to-surface rockets. During the past decade, however, the company has ventured into the more complex and demanding guided-weapons business with the development of three anti-armour systems.

All three are being manufactured under contract to the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) with Roketsan as the prime contractor, and will also be offered on the export market. Several other Turkish companies are involved in the programmes, including Aselsan.

Cirit

In 2004 Roketsan began development of a 2.75-inch semi-active laser-guided missile (SALGM) called Cirit, which was originally the name of a Turkish cavalry-rooted sport played for many centuries. It was also sometimes called Jereed, meaning ‘Javelin’ – also the name of the Raytheon-Lockheed Martin man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank guided weapon [ATGW] system. Cirit was intended to provide the TLFC’s AH-1P Cobra and AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters with a precision attack capability.

Rather than upgrading its existing 2.75-inch unguided rocket, Roketsan elected to develop a new missile that could be launched from MIL-STD-810 F- and MIL-STD-464 A-compatible M- and LAU-series launchers, which are widely deployed.

Cirit has an overall length of 1.9 m and a launch weight of 15 kg. Minimum range is 1,500 m and maximum range is 8,000 m.

The SALGM has a conventional layout, with a passive SAL seeker installed in the nose, surmounting the control unit with four swing-out control surfaces, which is in turn followed by the guidance section and power source.

Further back is the multipurpose warhead, which provides a combined anti-armour, anti-personnel and incendiary effect. According to Roketsan, this is optimised to neutralise high-value soft or semi-hardened targets.

The rear of the SALGM contains the rocket motor, which is insensitive munition (IM)-compliant and has a reduced smoke signature. It is connected to the rear section by a roll bearing that enables it to rotate in flight.

There are four small stabilising surfaces at the very rear of the missile immediately in front of the exhaust nozzle.

During deployment, the gunner designates the target prior to launch, after which the rocket relies on a MEMS (micro electromechanical system)-type inertial measurement unit in combination with terminal laser homing.

According to Roketsan, Cirit has a high probability of hit on a 3×3 m target at maximum range.

First tests of Cirit were carried out in 2006, with development and flight qualification completed in 2008. Low-rate initial production has already commenced and will ramp up to full-rate production in 2012.

The company says that nearly 100 Cirit missiles of different configurations were launched during the extensive development and qualification tests. These included ballistic, control and guidance test missiles, plus qualification missiles.

As the SALGM is longer than the M- and LAU-series pods, Roketsan has developed a new launch pod and a new canister in which Cirit is delivered as an all-up round. The latter is loaded into either a two- or a four-round launch pod, which is more robust against environmental conditions than a standard launcher and easier to load and unload.

Cirit can additionally be fired from a ‘smart’ launcher, which has a MIL-STD-1760 interface. This can hold two or four SALGMs and contains all of the control electronics, enabling it to be rapidly integrated onto a number of helicopters that are required only to have a MIL-STD-1760 interface.

Roketsan signed an agreement with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in May 2011 for the integration of its Cirit Smart Launcher System on the T-129 attack helicopter, to enable data transfer between the missile and the helicopter launch platform.

Also in May, Roketsan signed a memorandum of understanding with Eurocopter for integration of Cirit on the EC635 helicopter, tests of which are planned for an unknown date.

UMTAS

Development of the UMTAS (Uzun Menzilli Tanksavar Fuze Sistemi) long-range air-launched ATGW began in 2005 with the Turkish Undersecretary of National Defence’s award to Roketsan of an initial TRY50 million (USD30.53 million), 26-month Phase I study contract. Phase I covered concept work, including subsystems such as missile propulsion, guidance and warhead.

The ATGW will be the main armament of TAI’s T-129 attack helicopter, which is a further development of the AgustaWestland A129 Mangusta. It is expected that 51 T-129s will be built to supplement the currently deployed AH-1P and AH-1W attack helicopters used by the TLFC.

The UMTAS missile is 1.8 m long and 16 cm in diameter. Launch weight is 37.5 kg and range is 500-8,000 m.

Roketsan received the Phase II contract in mid-2008. First helicopter trial launches have taken place from an AH-1P, which is being used as a testbed for the programme. Safe separation and jettison tests have also been carried out.

The launcher has a military-standard interface and weighs 60 kg. The T-129 attack helicopter would typically carry two launchers, each with four UMTAS missiles, and two launch pods with two or four Cirit 2.75-inch missiles each.

Aselsan has developed a pedestal-type launcher with four UMTAS missiles in the ready-to-launch position. This could be installed on fast attack craft or patrol boats.

In addition to lock-on-before-launch and lock-on-after-launch operational modes, UMTAS can be used against masked targets. The firing envelope enables an off-boresight target engagement.

UMTAS has completed ballistic and control test firings and is undergoing guided firing tests.

Although the first application of UMTAS will be airborne, it is also suitable for some land- and sea-based platforms.

OMTAS

A new weapon known as OMTAS (Orta Menzilli Tanksavar Sistemi) portable medium-range ATGW has grown out of UMTAS and shares several of its subsystems. These include: a nose-mounted uncooled imaging infrared (IIR) seeker developed by Aselsan; a tandem HEAT warhead optimised against targets fitted with explosive reactive armour (ERA) – the first warhead neutralises the ERA, thereby clearing a path for the larger main charge; a duplex RF datalink for uplink-downlink between the user and missile command; and other electronic subsystems.

Roketsan received an initial Phase I design contract for the OMTAS ATGW in April 2007, which it fulfilled by the end of 2009.

The system consists of a missile in its launch tube and a tripod with associated control unit and sighting unit (SU), the latter two systems together weighing about 55 kg.

The OMTAS missile has an overall length of 1.68 m and the same 16 cm diameter as UMTAS, but is slightly lighter at 35 kg, including launch tube. It has four flip-out control surfaces at the very rear and six flip-out wings about two thirds of the way down from the nose.

It has a minimum range of 200 m and maximum range of more than 4,000 m. Its solid-propellant HTPB (hydroxy terminate polybutadiene) rocket motor – also developed by Roketsan – is IM-compliant.

The SU features a thermal camera, TV camera, digital magnetic compass and laser rangefinder. It can be removed and used as a standalone observation device, providing an all-weather target battlefield surveillance capability.

OMTAS can be launched from within a confined space. It has fire-and-forget and fire-and-update modes of operation, as well as direct-attack and top-attack options for masked targets.

Although the first version of OMTAS will be tripod mounted, the ATGW can also be integrated onto tracked and wheeled platforms. During transportation and field deployment each end of the launch tube is fitted with a protective cover.

According to Roketsan, first missiles have already been successfully test fired without the IIR seeker and all-up firings are due in 2012, with design freeze scheduled for late 2012.

Ballistic performance trials have also been completed, as well as control and guidance characteristics using control test vehicles.

Full-scale development (Phase II) is still in progress in line with the original schedule, with qualification expected to take place in 2013 and production (Phase III) to commence in 2014.