Turkey’s new indigenously developed “Hisar-A” low-altitude missile defense system has completed all of its tests, and will soon enter mass production phase, Daily Sabah reports.

Hisar-A low-altitude air defense missile fire test (Picture source: Aselsan)

"Hisar-A low-altitude air defense missile system developed by Aselsan and Roketsan has successfully destroyed the target with 100% accuracy in the final tests,” Ismail Demir, Defense Industry President, announced on his twitter account. He added that the mass production of Hisar-A will begin shortly.

Hisar-A System has a modular design comprising Search Radar & Identification friend or foe (IFF), Infrared Sensors & Laser Range Finder, Data Link, Vertically Launcher & Bi-Pulsed Air Defense Missile with IIR seeker. Hisar missiles are defense weapons developed to protect military bases, ports, facilities, and troops against aerial threats as well as to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces for a low- and medium-altitude air defense security system. While the Hisar’s radar, command and control, and fire control systems are developed by Aselsan, Roketsan developed the missile system. The Hisar-A and Hisar-O are expected to be in service by 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Turkey had to rely on Patriot batteries provided by its NATO allies Germany and the Netherlands, which were withdrawn in 2015. Spanish batteries took their place at the İncirlik Air Base in Adana but these are now announced to be withdrawn as a reaction to the Turkish offensive in Syrian Kurdistan.