UAE-based Calidus displayed the Wahash 8x8 armoured fighting vehicle with ASELSAN’s KORKUT 35 mm air defence system in the IDEX 2025 exhibition.
A surprise from the IDEX2025 is the KORKUT integrated into the Calidus Wahash 8x8 armoured vehicle, signalling the country’s interest in the short-range air defence system. Wahash is a joint development by Calidus and the South African ADG Mobility that was unveiled in IDEX 2019.
Before Walash, KORKUT’s first integration on an 8x8 platform was on Otokar’s ARMA 8x8 armoured fighting vehicle, displayed in the IDEF’23 exhibition.
KORKUT is actively used with the Turkish Armed Forces onboard FNSS’s ACV-30 tracked armoured vehicle. In the ongoing counter-terrorism operations, KORKUT has been successfully used to counter UAV threats and against ground targets. The threat coverage also includes helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and cruise missiles.
KORKUT can fire various munitions armed with two 35 mm revolver cannons with a combined fire rate of 1100 RPM, including the standard 35 mm ammunition and ATOM 35 airburst ammunition.
ATOM 35, specifically developed for KORKUT and towed 35 mm anti-aircraft guns, is the system’s main effector. Upon exit, the fire control system programs the rounds to scatter metal fragments over a large area. Unlike proximity-fused rounds, programmed airburst ammunition is resistant to interference.
The turret includes the AKREP 100-G fire control radar with its own EO/IR tracking system. Additionally, KORKUT units can work alongside the command vehicle, which carries the KALKAN 200-G (MAR) searching radar with a range of 80 km.
Future developments for KORKUT include the KORKUT C-RAM variant, which will be used in conjunction with the STR 400-G (SERHAT DUAL) weapon-locating radar. The firing tests for KORKUT C-RAM were conducted in 2024.
