ASELSAN’s MURAD 100-A AESA radar for fighters and UCAVs, integrated into Akıncı UCAV, achieved locks on multiple targets during the second flight test.
ASELSAN CEO Ahmet Akyol announced that the radar previously integrated into the F-16 fighter jet achieved locks on multiple targets.
The radar screen shows targets at varying ranges, covering 70 degrees. While distance indicators are going up to “160”, it is unclear if these are in kilometres or nautical miles.
As Akıncı can fly for extended periods, it can provide more test data than F-16 for MURAD 100-A’s optimisations in the same timeframe. Thus, these tests not only contribute to Akıncı but other members of the MURAD AESA radar family to be used onboard other platforms (Kızılelma unmanned fighter, Hürjet LCA, KAAN fighter, Anka-III UCAV...)
The radar’s air-to-air functions encompass missile midcourse guidance, high-aspect search, helicopter detection, and weather monitoring. MURAD 100-A offers SAR imaging, ground-moving target detection, fixed target tracking, mapping, and rangefinding for air-to-surface operations.
As a result, MURAD 100-A will provide more than just the anticipated air-to-air capability to come with the indigenously developed missiles (Gökdoğan, Bozdoğan, Sungur). Its air-to-surface functionalities enable Akıncı to identify ground or sea targets beyond the limitations of EO/IR systems, which may face challenges like fog or clouds.
