ADJ
MKE’S laser weapon system, part of the company’s TOLGA short-range air defence (SHORAD) system successfully took down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at a range of 760m during its debut at a Turkish Army live-fire exercise.
With a total fibre laser power of 20 kW (4× 5 kW), the system can engage air, land and maritime threats while operating fully integrated with the detection, tracking and command and control (C2) infrastructure of the TOLGA SHORAD system developed under MKE’s “Effective-Simple-Affordable” approach.
The system offers three engagement modes against aerial threats–dazzling, blockout and destruction. By targeting the cameras of threats, causing temporary loss of vision at ranges of 4500–2500m and permanent loss of vision (blockout) at ranges of 2500–1500m. At ranges of 1000–1500m, it can neutralise the threat by inflicting structural damage.
The system’s turret provides 360-degree coverage and uses linear motor technology, converting electrical energy directly into linear motion. This technology enables detected threats to be tracked with high precision, acceleration and speed.
MKE’s TOLGA SHORAD system, into which the laser weapon system is integrated also conducted its first live-fire engagements at the exercise. It was developed by MKE to counter fixed-wing kamikaze UAVs, drones, cruise missiles and other asymmetric aerial threats. Armed with its 12.7mm and 20mm fixed and vehicle-mounted weapon turrets, as well as its 20 mm twin-barrel weapon system, the TOLGA carried out the firing against aerial threats.
Manufactured by MKE, the 20 mm twin-barrel weapon system delivers concentrated firepower against aerial threats. Each gun has a rate of fire of 1,500 rounds per minute, providing a combined rate of 3,000 rounds per minute when both guns operate on the same turret.
Integrated Defence Against Aerial Threats
Alongside weapon systems with different capabilities, MKE TOLGA incorporates the GOKBORU Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, an acoustic detection system, electro-optical sensors, electronic jamming system and an advanced C2 infrastructure.
Threats detected and tracked by these components can be engaged using electronic jamming, laser and weapon systems. Anti-drone fragmented ammunition, specially developed for MKE-manufactured 12.7mm, 20mm and 35mm weapon systems also serve as kinetic responses.-–shp/adj/dl (Pix:MKE)
