On October 10, 2024, Turkiye’s primary missile manufacturer Roketsan conducted the first live test-firing of the “LEVENT” point defence missile system.
The company released footage on social media of the system’s first-ever test-firing. In the video, the launcher is shown fitted with fixed-face AESA radar arrays and an electro-optic sensor mounted. The test-firing was deemed to be successful.
Except for the video, the company didn’t communicate further about the test firing.
The LEVENT Missile-Based Close-In Weapon System is a short-range, all-weather, surface-to-air missile platform that handles target acquisition, tracking, command and control, communication, target evaluation, weapon allocation, engagement, and interception.
Its primary mission is to defend against anti-ship missiles at varying altitudes—from low-flying sea-skimmers to high-divers—traveling at subsonic to supersonic speeds, as well as other airborne threats like UAVs, hovering helicopters, and air-to-ground missiles. The system provides 360-degree coverage using both radar and electro-optical sensors.
LEVENT system will mount and launch eleven missiles, which is a derivative of Roketsan’s IIR-guided SUNGUR missiles. The missiles has a diameter of 128 mm and a range of 11 kilometers. LEVENT will be able to operate both autonomously and integrated with ship sensor systems.
The LEVENT system was unveiled at the IDEF 2023 exhibition in İstanbul. It was first showcased internationally at the DIMDEX 2024 exhibition in Qatar. The system is expected to replace RAM close-in defence system after being operational.
Another PDMS project by the Turkish defense industry is the GÖKSUR missile system. GÖKSUR, which is developed by Aselsan and TUBITAK SAGE (Turkish DARPA), will perform air and missile defense missions against threats such as anti-ship missiles, armed/unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, warplanes, and helicopters. The system is fitted with four fixed-face AESA radar arrays surrounding the gun mount and can deploy and launch 12 BOZDOGAN missiles (similar to the AIM-9 sidewinder).
GÖKSUR Close Air Defense Missile System has many features, such as the ability to destroy threats at a 360-degree angle, new generation IIR seeker guided missile, multiple target intercept capability, standalone and/or platform integrated operation, intermediate guidance with data link, and high single shot avoidance capability.
Here is our coverage about LEVENT missile system at IDEF 2023 exhibition:
