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HİSAR-O Air Defense System Completes Final Tests Before Mass Production Enhancing Türkiye's Defense Autonomy.
The HİSAR-O air and missile defense system, developed by ASELSAN and ROKETSAN, has reached a milestone by completing its qualification tests for mass production. Announced on January 19, 2025, in an official video, this development marks a crucial step in integrating this next-generation system into the Turkish Armed Forces' inventory. Full-scale production is now imminent, strengthening the country’s national air defense capabilities.
The HİSAR-O is a medium-range air defense system designed to counter a wide range of threats, including aircraft, helicopters, drones, cruise missiles, and air-to-ground projectiles (Picture source: Aselsan)
Haluk Görgün, Secretary of Defense Industry (SSB), shared the news on social media, highlighting the system’s exceptional precision in intercepting targets at long range and high altitude. The results demonstrated the technological maturity of the HİSAR-O and the efficiency of Türkiye’s production processes. ASELSAN and ROKETSAN, in collaboration with local subcontractors, play a central role in delivering competitive defense systems.
The HİSAR-O is a medium-range air defense system designed to counter a wide range of threats, including aircraft, helicopters, drones, cruise missiles, and air-to-ground projectiles. It features a range of 25 km and can intercept targets at altitudes exceeding 15 km, using missiles equipped with RF radar and infrared (IIR) guidance. Its configuration includes a fire control center, a radar, three missile launchers, an electro-optical system, and a transport and reloading unit. This modular architecture, combined with 360° engagement capability through vertical launchers, ensures operational flexibility.
The system incorporates advanced technologies such as mid-course guidance via data links and remote control enabled by wired or wireless communications. It is compatible with Link 1, 11B, and 16 tactical data links, operating within an open architecture that allows integration of future technologies. Integrated test and simulation systems ensure effective maintenance and high operational readiness, meeting the demands of modern air defense scenarios.
The HİSAR-O’s development process adheres to a systematic approach. Following design and qualification tests, prototypes undergo user acceptance tests. Production line qualification and pilot production phases ensure the design's compatibility with large-scale manufacturing requirements. These rigorous processes reduce risks and ensure adherence to budgets and timelines. Additionally, batch testing during production maintains consistent quality and incorporates field feedback for potential adjustments.
Compared to systems such as the American Patriot or the Russian S-400, the HİSAR-O offers an intermediate solution. With its 25 km range, it is less extensive than the Patriot (160 km) or the S-400 (400 km) but provides superior mobility due to its integration on a Mercedes-Benz 6×6 truck chassis. This mobility, paired with a simpler logistical footprint, makes it well-suited to the tactical and operational needs of the Turkish Armed Forces, contrasting with the more complex deployment requirements of the S-400.
The transition to mass production of the HİSAR-O demonstrates Türkiye's ability to independently develop and manufacture advanced defense systems. By bolstering the strategic capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces while reducing reliance on foreign suppliers, the HİSAR-O contributes significantly to the nation’s defense autonomy. This achievement also underscores the growing competitiveness of Türkiye’s defense industry on the global stage.