ASELSAN’s KORKUT 100/25 SB, GOKDENİZ For Short-Range Air Defence
CONFLICTS of the past several years have exposed a persistent vulnerability across modern armed forces: the gap between long-range interceptors and the fast, low-cost threats that slip beneath them. Loitering munitions, FPV drones, cruise missiles and sea-skimming anti-ship weapons are compressing engagement timelines to seconds, placing unprecedented demands on short-range air defence. For nations managing expansive maritime zones and dispersed land formations simultaneously, the need for responsive, autonomous and affordable close-in protection across both domains is acute.
ASELSAN addresses this challenge through two combat-proven system families that serve distinct but complementary operational environments: KORKUT 100/25 SB for ground-based counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) defence and GOKDENİZ as a naval close-in weapon system (CIWS).
GOKDENİZ: The Final Defensive Layer at Sea
When outer defensive rings are saturated or bypassed, the engagement window for a warship’s last line of defence is measured in seconds. GOKDENİZ was designed for precisely this scenario. Armed with twin 35mm guns delivering a combined rate of 1,100 rounds per minute, the system fires both ASELSAN’s programmable ATOM airburst ammunition and High-Explosive Incendiary rounds. Its Automatic Linkless Ammunition Feed Mechanism allows operators to switch between ammunition types during engagement based on the evolving threat profile, while eliminating the jamming and feed failures associated with conventional belt-fed systems. This gives GOKDENİZ the versatility to engage sea-skimming anti-ship missiles (ASM), low-flying aircraft, helicopters, UAVs and asymmetric surface threats from a single mount.
An integrated tracking radar and electro-optical sensor suite provides autonomous sensor-to-shooter capability. In its 100/35 StA configuration, a dedicated 3D search radar adds independent volume surveillance, enabling full autonomous operation without reliance on the ship’s combat management system. Even in degraded CMS conditions, embedded ballistic computation and redundant architecture ensure standalone engagement capability. GOKDENİZ is now operational across five navies including the Turkish Navy, with live-fire validation completed aboard TCG Istanbul in January 2026. For navies across the Asia-Pacific seeking a cost-effective, combat-validated alternative to legacy Western CIWS platforms, GOKDENİZ offers a compelling combination of firepower, autonomy and proven integration across multiple ship classes.
KORKUT 100/25 SB: Intelligent Counter-UAS on the Ground
The rapid proliferation of mini and micro UAS has introduced a threat class that conventional air defence was never designed to handle. These targets are small, agile, low-flying and cheap enough to be fielded in volume. KORKUT 100/25 SB was developed specifically to close this gap, combining advanced sensor integration with ASELSAN’s ATOM 25 mm Air Burst Munition.
ATOM 25 ABM is a programmable smart round that calculates optimal time-of-burst during firing by accounting for muzzle velocity in real time. Its prefragmented shell structure creates a dense, controlled fragmentation pattern that significantly increases hit probability against small, fast-moving aerial targets. A dual-mode fuze provides both airburst and point detonation options, extending the system’s utility against ground targets as well. Built-in safety features include a mechanical safe and arm device, electronic self-destruct and resistance to electromagnetic interference, ensuring reliable performance in electronically contested environments.
The weapon system leverages external sensor inputs alongside its own electro-optical suite to detect, track and engage targets in all weather conditions, day and night. Computer-based fire control enables automatic target positioning and engagement with an effective anti-UAV range of up to 1,200 meters. Remote-controlled operation enhances crew survivability while maintaining continuous readiness in high-threat scenarios. Designed for modularity, KORKUT 100/25 SB integrates onto various tactical wheeled platforms, providing high mobility and adaptability across diverse operational environments.
Shared Philosophy, Layered Effect
Together, GOKDENİZ and KORKUT 100/25 SB reflect ASELSAN’s approach to short-range air defence: smart ammunition at the core, autonomous sensor-to-shooter architecture, and platform flexibility across domains. Both systems leverage programmable airburst technology to defeat threats that conventional rounds struggle to intercept, while their modular designs allow integration into existing force structures without requiring wholesale platform changes.