New Aselsan Decoy system on Turkish Submarine TCG Anafartalar S356.

A Turkish Navy submarine was spotted passing through Istanbul on January 5th 2020, with new equipment. Trained eyes spotted an array of twelve white circles just above the waterline which appears to be ASELSAN's launcher. According to some sources, the system will be integrated into Preveza and Gür class submarines.

Turkish Navy submarine with what appears to be the Aselsan Zargana Torpedo Countermeasure System (Picture source: Yörük Işık)

This submarine spotted last month is the TCG Anafartalar (S356), a German-designed Type 209/1400 Preveze Class submarine. It is one of four of the class which was built locally at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard.

According to the spotters, the submarine will integrate ASELSAN’s Acoustic Deceptive System for Submarines Project. Gölcük Naval Shipyard is going to be given a Turkish developed mid-life upgrade (MLU) over the next few years so this new defensive system may be part of that.

ZARGANA Submarine Torpedo Countermeasure System ensures submarine survivability against torpedo attacks by quick reaction capabilities, provided with operator controlled autonomous operation and outboard launchers.

The system comprises; Quick reaction capability, adaptable launching cell configuration as per user requirements up to 24 launching cells, single and salvo launching capabilities, high level of redundancy, bubble-free launching.

ZARGANA uses ZOKA Acoustic jammers and decoys. Acoustic jammer is a broadband high power acoustic noise generator that covers all operating frequency bands of both classical and modern acoustic homing torpedoes operating in passive, active or combined homing modes. Acoustic decoys are aimed to deceive incoming torpedo by emulating dynamic and acoustic behaviours of the submarine.