Turkish defense giant to unveil new weapon system

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Leading Turkish defense contractor Aselsan is set to manufacture new versions of the SARP weapon system, a source said April 2.

The company is preparing to add new products to the SARP family in the near future, said the source from Aselsan who requested anonymity for security reasons.

“Through its extensive surveillance and remote control capabilities, SARP enhances situational awareness of the gunner in his proximity while the vulnerability to attacks is decreased drastically,” according to a description on the defense contractor’s website.

Aselsan is set to finalize a smaller and lighter configuration of the system, which has been named SARP-L, said the source. It has been designed for low recoil weapons.

The other weapon system Aselsan is working on is the SARP-ZAFER. The system allows troops to change ammunition without moving outside an armored vehicle, providing them security.

The SARP weapon system can be integrated into land and naval platforms and is used in 16 countries, said the source.

The firm has produced 1,350 SARP systems so far, of which 1,000 are used in Turkey while 350 have been exported.

The weapon system has three versions: SARP-NSV equipped with a Russian origin 12.7 millimeter NSV machine gun, SARP-DUAL which can be equipped with two weapons at the same time, and SARP-Anti-tank having laser guided anti-tank missiles.

In addition, the SARP remote control weapon system can be equipped with small and medium-sized machine guns and 40 mm bomb launchers.

Founded in 1975, Aselsan is Turkey’s premier defense systems producer.