Roketsan continues its work related to missiles and ammunition, and also continues to develop innovative weapon system projects. The ALKA Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system was exhibited at IDEF’21 for the first time and is an effective solution to eliminate improvised explosive devices (IED) and micro/micro unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
Changes in threats that have occurred at the same time as global technological progress have made it necessary to propose new defensive weapons. For example, micro/micro drones are very easy to obtain, so they are increasingly used for terrorist activities. On the other hand, improvised explosive device components also continue to be a major threat.
Defenses based on conventional firearms do not take into account the threat from micro/micro drones and the possibility of collateral damage, as well as the professionals and ammunition required for such operations. Observations of global trends indicate that innovative defense systems are being adopted to counter such threats, and faster. Similarly, eliminating the threat of improvised explosive devices requires innovative solutions. ALKA is a cost-effective solution to defend against IEDs, micro/micro drones, especially micro/micro drone groups.
Autonomous tasks using artificial intelligence and deep learning algorithms
ALKA is designed to destroy IEDs, micro/micro drones with fixed wings and rotors, and micro/micro drone groups outside the scope of influence. ALKA can concentrate and accurately guide electromagnetic and laser energy against threats, through mixing and layering Method to achieve the goal.
ALKA provides users with electromagnetic interference capabilities to combat threats from single or group micro/micro drones functionally, and its electromagnetic and laser destructive capabilities enable it to eliminate micro/micro drones and micro/micro drones within a safe distance Groups and improvised explosive devices.
ALKA can autonomously perform target detection, tracking and discrimination tasks by using artificial intelligence and deep learning algorithms. The system can also be integrated with external systems and used as part of the network structure. ALKA concentrates the directional energy precisely on the target and hits the precise marking point. The system can react at lightning speed during the day or night, and the cost of each shot is extremely low.
With its modular design, ALKA can be used in mobile or fixed according to user needs. The mobile system can be considered as an ideal solution for the defense of forward or deployed units and urban operations, while the fixed system can be used for air defense of key facilities such as headquarters, base ports, and reinforced military police stations.
ALKA-NEW brings new features
Roketsan engineers are working on the ALKA network-enabled weapon (ALKA-NEW) concept, which will make ALKA more efficient. ALKA NEW will provide users with the ability to combine multi-laser weapons with network-centric automation. Therefore, ALKA will acquire the following capabilities:
- Run alone and/or as part of the network structure
- Backup command and control capabilities of all vehicles
- Through the “autonomous focusing in the network structure” of multiple lasers at the same point, sufficient laser power can be generated to perform the required damage to the target
- Able to conduct threat assessment and weapon allocation (TEWA) for multiple threats, determine the priority of the target and destroy the target according to this priority/ranking
- Integration with different radars and/or electromagnetic interference systems (EJS)
- Low false alarm rate of data fusion (multi-sensor use)
Successfully developed in a short time
In July 2016, Roketsan used its own resources to initiate the development process of ALKA as an innovative, progressive, and cost-effective weapon as a national tool. After a short period of success, Roketsan completed the production and testing of the first ALKA prototype in July 2018.
After successfully passing all verification and qualification tests, ALKA is now further developing based on end user feedback.
Roketsan and the Defense Industry Presidential Palace signed the ALKA contract on April 20, 2021. National stakeholders also contributed to the project, with Roketsan as the main contractor. As a result of this project, Turkey brought national skills and knowledge in many different fields to Turkey.
Roketsan is also committed to integrating DEW system technology into different platforms. It aims to develop a system with higher power as part of the future layered air defense system.
