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Turkey successfully tests bomb in first-ever supersonic track
Turkey successfully tests bomb in first-ever supersonic track
Turkey has successfully conducted a test on its first-ever supersonic track, the country’s technology minister said Dec. 27. Click through for the story in photos...
“It was a historic moment and a significant success for our defense industry,” Science and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank said on Twitter.
Varank noted that a one-tonne MK-84 general purpose bomb reached 1,860 km/h before penetrating a one-meter deep steel-reinforced concrete wall.
Turkey had opened the longest and highest capacity supersonic test track of Europe on Oct. 31, named HABRAS. The first test on the track was done with a 113-kg warhead for a miniature bunker buster.
The 2,000-meter-long test track was designed by the Defense Industry Research and Development Institute (SAGE) at the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK).
The test campus was developed with national resources and by Turkish engineers, according to a statement released during its inauguration.
The test railed test line is able to accelerate an object weighing 1,000 kilograms in speeds as fast as 2,000 kilometers per hour.
The track will be used to test various products including rocket engines and ejection seats of military aircraft.
It will help Ankara’s ambition to reduce costs and dependencies in national projects.
TUBITAK's SAGE is currently testing Bozok precision-guided munition produced by Baykar.
The ammunition will be used by Bayraktar TB2 armed drones.
Turkey’s Defense Industry Directorate (SSB) also signed a deal with missile manufacturer Roketsan for the mass production of the country’s first marine missiles, on Nov. 2.
In a statement, the SSB also said Turkish defense electronics company Aselsan would produce launch control systems and other equipment for the missiles, which will be called ATMACA.
The ATMACA project was launched to meet the marine missile needs of Turkey’s MİLGEM project, which covers the construction of a number of corvettes (Ada class) and frigates for the Turkish Navy by mainly using local sources. It will integrated to the MİLGEM platforms of frigates.
Over 65 percent of local industry participation was realized in the MİLGEM project and more than 50 domestic companies have been provided business opportunities within the scope of the entire project, according to SSB’s website.
The first two ships, the TCG-HEYBELIADA and TCG-BÜYÜKADA, are currently serving for the Naval Forces Command. The third ship, the TCG-BURGAZADA, was launched on June 18, 2016, and the fourth ship, the TCG-KINALI, was launched on July 3, 2017, with test activities in progress, according to data from the website.
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