Türkiye develops national system to protect aircraft from IR-guided missiles

The Turkish company ASELSAN revealed the characteristics of a new product YILDIRIM-100 of the DIRCM type, a “directed infrared (IR) countermeasure system” designed to protect air platforms from IR-guided missiles.

According to Caliber.Az, this was reported by SavunmaSanayiST.com on its Twitter page.

ASELSAN YILDIRIM-100 DIRCM’ın özellikleri belli oldu https://t.co/7fcqKDPcRH pic.twitter.com/8RTgGAD5aY

— SavunmaSanayiST.com (@SavunmaSanayiST) June 8, 2023

The YILDIRIM-100 will have a dual turret configuration, each containing a precision tracking unit and a powerful laser beam designed to neutralize heat-seeking missiles. The system will also include a DIRCM control unit and a communication support unit with a missile attack warning system.

It is expected that YILDIRIM-100 will be used in helicopters and other aerial platforms. In parallel, ASELSAN announced the development of an improved version of the YILDIRIM-300 for the first national KAAN fighter.

Thanks to the DIRCM systems of the YILDIRIM series, the countermeasure capabilities of air platforms will be brought to perfection. Currently, the number of countries that can produce DIRCM and use it on their platforms is very limited. With the completion of the YILDIRIM-300, developed for the KAAN aircraft, it will become the world's second 5th generation fighter after the Su-57 with a ready-made DIRCM-type infrared missile countermeasures system.

DIRCM-type products generate and send high-power laser energy to an incoming infrared or ultraviolet-guided missile. The laser energy blinds the missile seeker and forces it to move away from the protected platform. The 57 KS-O optical-electronic suppression station is being installed on the Su-101.

Key features of the YILDIRIM-100:

- Multiband laser output;

- Compatible with UV/IR missile warning systems;

- Dual turret configuration for full global protection;

- Fast and accurate threat detection and tracking;

- Capable of operating under multiple threat scenarios;

- Generation of high laser energy on target;

- Small size and weight, low power consumption;

- High availability, low operational costs, and low life cycle cost.

In addition, ASELSAN continues to develop many different electro-optical systems. Among these systems are warning and reconnaissance systems such as KARAT-100, TOYGUN-100, İRİS-300, LİAS-300. When ASELSAN completes these systems, Türkiye will have a superior optoelectronic system for aerial platforms.