The GOKDENIZ (Turkish: Aselsan Gökdeniz) complex along with Aselsan ATOM 35mm[1][2] airburst ammunition is an all-weather-capable Turkish 35 mm dual barrel close-in weapon system (CIWS) developed by Aselsan.[4][5] It is a CIWS variant of KORKUT Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.[6][7]

GOKDENIZ
Scale model in 2022
TypeClose-in weapon system
Place of originTurkey
Production history
DesignerAselsan
ManufacturerAselsan
Produced2019-Present
Specifications
Shell35×228mm ATOM, 35×228mm HEI-T
Shell weightATOM 35mm: 1.750 kg (3 lb 14 oz)[1][2]
HEI-T: 1.565 kg (3 lb 7 oz)
Caliber35 mm (1.38 in)
Barrels2
ActionGas-operated[3]
Traverse360°
Rate of fire1100 rpm (2 x 550 rpm)[4]
Muzzle velocityATOM 35mm: 1,020 m/s (3,300 ft/s)[1][2]
HEI-T: 1,175 m/s (3,850 ft/s)
Effective firing range4,000 metres (13,000 ft)[1][2]
Feed systemAutomatic linkless[4]

Each GOKDENIZ platform carries a variant of Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon, manufactured under licence by MKEK.[7] The CIWS system, sensors and electronics manufactured by Aselsan. The CIWS can fire up to 1100 rounds a minute up to an effective range of 4 km.[4][7]

Purpose edit

The system's primary purpose is to defend against anti-ship missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and other precision-guided munitions. It can also be employed against conventional and rotary-wing aircraft, surface ships, small water-crafts, coastal targets and floating mines.[6][1][2]

Ammunition edit

The cannons fire 35×228 mm Aselsan ATOM 35mm airburst round and high-explosive incendiary (HEI) ammunition.[5][2]

In the anti-missile role it uses ATOM 35mm airburst ammunition from Aselsan. This round ejects tungsten pellets at a predetermined distance. It is a smart ammunition which has a base fuse. Together with the ability of precise time counting and the capability of being programmed during firing by taking muzzle velocity into consideration automatically sets the fuse to detonate the round as it approaches a pre-set distance from the target.[1][2] Whilst a single pellet is too small to do major damage in itself, the accumulation of damage from multiple strikes is designed to destroy wings and control surfaces, sensors and aerodynamics, causing the target to crash. According to Aselsan, the ammunition is resistant against electromagnetic jamming.[1][2] On the other hand, HEI ammunition designed to impart energy and therefore damage to its target in one or both of two ways: via a high-explosive charge and/or via its incendiary (fire-causing) effects. They caused fires, which on ships can be difficult to extinguish.

The system allows loading of both ammunition at the same time and it can switch between ammunition type with automatic linkless ammunition feed mechanism when needed during the operation.[4]

Variant edit

GOKDENIZ ER edit

This is a further variation of the GOKDENIZ close-in weapon system. It was one of the two point-defense weapon systems from Turkey presented during the International Defense Exhibition and Fair (IDEF) 21. The GOKDENIZ-ER will operate independently of ship sensors and systems, be armed with 11 missiles, and provide 360-degree coverage through AESA radar and electro-optical sensors.[8]

The system is still under development. It be developed independently of ROKETSAN's Levent system, and is seen as an alternative to SeaRAM Block-2. The system will have less missiles than Levent, but the missiles will be larger. Because of the involvement of TÜBTAK-SAGE in the project, it is expected that the surface-to-air version of the Bozdogan missile, an indigenous air-to-air missile produced by TÜBTAK-SAGE, will be preferred. Nonetheless, the possibility of employing a more powerful and larger version of the SUNGUR Missiles is also being considered.[8]

Operators edit

Current Operator

  Turkmenistan

  Turkey

Future Operators

  Pakistan

  Philippines

  Ukraine

Similar edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "ATOM 35mm Airburst Ammunition". Aselsan. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "ATOM" (PDF). Aselsan. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  3. ^ Friedman, Norman (1997–1998). "Oerlikon 35mm (Type GDM-A and GDM-C)". The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997–1998. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press. p. 455. ISBN 978-1-55750-268-1. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e "GOKDENIZ" (PDF). Aselsan. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b "WEAPONS and TURRETS for NAVAL PLATFORM: GOKDENIZ". TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY PRODUCT CATALOGUE. Archived from the original on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b "KORKUT Self Propelled Air Defense Gun System". Aselsan.
  7. ^ a b c "GUNS and HOWITZERS: 35MM TWIN BARREL ANTI AIRCRAFT GUN". TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY PRODUCT CATALOGUE. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  8. ^ a b "IDEF 2021: Turkish Companies Unveil Indigenous RAM Replacements". Naval News. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  9. ^ "IDEF 2021: Turkish weapon systems debut on new Turkmenistan corvette - Shephard Media". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  10. ^ Ozberk, Tayfun (2021-08-16). "Turkmenistan Comission [sic] Its First Turkmen-Class Corvette "Deniz Han"". Naval News. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  11. ^ Ozberk, Tayfun (2021-01-23). "Turkey launches the lead ship of I-class frigates "Istanbul"". Naval News. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  12. ^ "Aselsan Secures €176.9 m Contract for Pakistan's MILGEM Corvette Program". Quwa. 2019-11-18. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  13. ^ "Корвет "Гетьман Іван Мазепа" (F211) - майбутній флагман ВМСУ (Тарас Чмут, 5 жовтня 2022)". YouTube (in Ukrainian). 2022-10-05. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  14. ^ "OSU-35K 35mm Naval Armament System | PIT-RADWAR".
  15. ^ "AG-35 35mm Anti aircraft Gun System | PIT-RADWAR".