ASELSAN’s GÖKALP C-UAS system brings together the newly introduced but successful interceptor UAVs with the layout of a conventional air defence system.
ASELSAN’s [BIST:ASELS] interceptor UAV-based GÖKALP air defence system, unveiled at SAHA EXPO, couples the cost efficiency of interceptor UAVs, high mobility, and the structure of a generic air defence system.
The system consists of a radar vehicle fitted with KALKAN 200-G, which can be a civilian-grade pickup or another mobile platform, and a launcher unit with an ASELFLIR 410 EO/IR system and datalink antenna.
GÖKALP also has a standalone towed configuration that uses four small AESA radars for detection and DRAGONEYE EO/IR. However, the standalone configuration can still work with the mobile units and obtain an air picture from the radar vehicle that employs a longer range searching radar.
ASELSAN also displayed two interceptor types of different sizes and ranges for the GÖKALP system, as GÖKALP E1 and GÖKALP E2. GÖKALP E2, with a larger size, employs fixed wings at the front to have a negative static margin that contributes to manoeuvrability. However, ASELSAN putting SKYDAGGER's HUNTER interceptor alongside its own types suggests that the system is agnostic in the types of interceptors that can be used.
Both launch units have quick and multi-launch capability through containers that can be stacked on top of each other.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
