Roketsan Missiles Industries has reached an agreement with Airbus Defence and Space to design and integrate weapon systems on the C295W surveillance and transport aircraft.
As per the agreed terms, Roketsan’s weapons including the 70mm laser-guided missile Cirit; laser-guided long-range anti-tank Missile Lumtas; and laser-guided bomb Teber will be tested and integrated on the Airbus-built aircraft.
The companies will begin weapons carriage and release trials on the aircraft in the near future.
Airbus Defence and Space military aircraft head Fernando Alonso said: “We are fully committed to continuing to develop new applications for the C295W and to enhancing its existing systems to ensure it retains its market-leading position.
“There is a clear opportunity for us to address the global requirement for a cost-effective armed utility aircraft and Roketsan’s product range and proven expertise make them the obvious partner.”
In a separate development, Roketsan partnered with Lockheed Martin to develop stand-off missile-joint strike fighter (SOM-J) cruise missile for the Turkish F-35 programme.
Designed for use against land and sea targets, the medium range, air-to-surface SOM-J missile will carry a single 350lb blast-fragmentation/semi-armour-piercing warhead and have a range exceeding 100nm.
The missile uses global positioning system, inertial, terrain-referenced and image-based navigation systems, as well as an imaging infrared seeker.
Roketsan chairman Emin Alpman said: “We foresee that in the changing era of fighter aircraft F-35 will set a bench with the capabilities and technologies provided within.
“We provide SOM-J as a weapon of choice for the optimum solution for various missions by enhancing the precision strike capabilities and maintaining the survivability and manoeuvrability.
"Our partnership with Lockheed Martin will extend much further with the steps we take today.”
Image: The Airbus C295W surveillance and transport aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Airbus DS.
