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Defending the Skies: Aselsan’s ATOM Airburst Ammunition Takes Aim at Drone Warfare.
Aselsan showcased its ATOM airburst ammunition and Steel Dome defense suite at a press event in Gölbaşı, Turkey, on October 7, 2025. The system aims to protect against fast-evolving drone and loitering munition threats seen in modern conflicts.
On 7 October 2025, at Aselsan’s Gölbaşı facilities near Ankara, the company hosted an in-depth Press Day attended by Army Recognition Group. The program combined technical presentations, a dedicated Q&A session with Aselsan’s CEO, and an exclusive guided tour of key facilities. The discussions centered on counter-drone priorities, particularly against Shahed-type loitering munitions, and on the role of ATOM airburst ammunition within Aselsan’s Steel Dome suite. Army Recognition was honored to be part of this Press Day.
ATOM 35 and ATOM 25 provide a scalable kinetic layer that can be cued by radar or electro-optical sensors and paired with jammers to close gaps at different ranges. The 35 mm airburst extends the defended perimeter and raises the probability of kill against larger or faster UAVs and missiles, while the 25 mm round offers responsive effects against small drones in cluttered environments where collateral risk and time-to-engage are critical. (Picture source: ASELSAN)
Aselsan emphasized that counter-UAS is now a strategic axis, with operational lessons showing that jamming alone may be insufficient when adversaries rotate frequencies, field new waveforms, or saturate the battlespace. In some scenarios, the company noted, a kinetic solution such as ATOM can outperform jammers by engaging at longer ranges and providing assured physical defeat of kamikaze drones, whereas electronic warfare may require multiple, continuously updated systems at once. This approach aligns with a layered defense model in which electronic attack, sensing, and smart ammunition are combined rather than viewed as substitutes.
Within this framework, ATOM 35 ABM is positioned as a mid-range, programmable 35 mm airburst round engineered to expand the mission envelope of gun systems against both traditional and modern aerial threats. The munition features precise time counting with muzzle-velocity correction and a homogeneous fragment dispersion pattern to maximize hit probability. Technical parameters include an effective range of 4 km, a muzzle velocity of 1020 m/s, and resilience to electromagnetic interference; it is programmed at the muzzle and uses a base fuze with self-destruct, with a stated 20-year shelf life. These characteristics reflect a design intent to counter not just helicopters and aircraft but also cruise missiles and UAVs, extending the utility of 35×228 mm gun platforms in contemporary air defense.
For short-range engagements and mini or micro UAVs, ATOM 25 ABM delivers a smaller-caliber, time-programmed solution optimized for first-shot effects. The round’s detonation time is set at the muzzle based on measured exit velocity, allowing airburst in the optimal point of the target’s flight path. It employs a pre-formed high-explosive fragmentation warhead and offers impact and time fuze modes with electronic self-destruct and a 15 m arming distance. The stated effective range is up to 1.2 km for aerial micro/mini targets and up to 1.5 km for ground targets, with a muzzle velocity of 1100 m/s and a 10-year shelf life, complementing point-defense roles and mobile C-UAS mounts.
Seen together under the Steel Dome architecture, ATOM 35 and ATOM 25 provide a scalable kinetic layer that can be cued by radar or electro-optical sensors and paired with jammers to close gaps at different ranges. The 35 mm airburst extends the defended perimeter and raises the probability of kill against larger or faster UAVs and missiles, while the 25 mm round offers responsive effects against small drones in cluttered environments where collateral risk and time-to-engage are critical. This layered pairing directly addresses the evolving threat profile of Shahed-type loitering munitions and the broader family of low-cost, attritable aerial systems that challenge traditional air defenses.
The Press Day at Gölbaşı highlighted Aselsan’s intent to fuse electronic warfare, fire control, and smart munitions into a coherent counter-drone ecosystem rather than relying on a single effector category. From the strategic framing to the technical walkthroughs of ATOM ammunition, the company presented a clear trajectory for maturing its Steel Dome suite and meeting urgent operational needs documented on today’s battlefields. Army Recognition appreciates the access and insights provided during the CEO meeting, the technical briefings, and the exclusive facility tour, and looks forward to continued coverage of these developments as they mature toward fielded capability.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.