In a recent article on integrated air defence and the future threats, ASELSAN expressed interest in the development of space-based lasers and kinetic systems.
The article published by ASELSAN as Integrated and Layered Air Defence: Operational Requirements and a Perspective on the Future gives a hint at one of the directions ASELSAN might be taking for defence against ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles.
The article’s section on the new threats underlines the idea of space-based laser weapons and kinetic interceptors to defend against new types of ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons, against which current systems are not quick enough to react.
This makes Turkiye the second country to express interest in the idea, after the US, which has started the work on the Golden Dome air defence system to include a swarm of space-based effectors for midcourse and boost phase interception.
While it is not hard to imagine how a space-based laser to destroy or cripple missiles would work, kinetic interceptors can be expected to take more time in terms of planning
Kinetic kill vehicles to be launched from orbiting platforms have to be set on a new course to intercept incoming ballistic missiles. Thus, ‘satellites’ carrying these effectors will likely be in a LEO in a constellation.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
