Roketsan's Laser Weapon ALKA YESS Tested in Aksaray
The field performance of the ALKA Directed Energy Weapon System (YESS), produced by Roketsan, was tested in Aksaray the other day with a series of firing tests.
AKSARAY - The tests were attended by Defense Industry President Haluk Görgün and Roketsan General Manager Murat İkinci, who followed the event online, as well as numerous personnel from the armed forces, Ermaksan General Manager Ahmet Özkayan, and international buyers. During the day-long tests, carried out in five different scenarios, stationary and moving targets were hit with pinpoint accuracy.
Targets in the tests included 32mm bulletproof glass, Armox armor steel, IEDs (improvised explosive devices), fixed-wing taron drones, and FPV drones. Using a 2x10 kW laser generated by a resonator produced by the Bursa-based Ermaksan company, all targets were destroyed with precision.
Ermaksan Provides the Laser for Roketsan
Ermaksan, which owns Turkey’s first private-sector semiconductor facility, meets the defense industry’s laser needs with domestically and nationally produced systems. Ermaksan supplies high-power laser sources ranging from 2.5 kW to 10 kW for Roketsan’s ALKA Directed Energy Weapon System.
Ahmet Özkayan, Vice Chairman and General Manager of Ermaksan, emphasized their significant contributions to localizing many strategically important products with cutting-edge technology, saying, “This has always been a top priority for us. We are thrilled and proud of these advanced solutions that we have developed with local and national resources.”
Highlighting that the resonator production is developed entirely through local resources, Özkayan also pointed out that Ermaksan’s defense industry solutions are not limited to resonators.
“Our defense industry products include the THUNDERBOLT 40/70 T Twin-Barrel Naval Gun, the THUNDERBOLT 40/70 SB Single-Barrel Naval Gun, the SM-81 KESKİN Breech-Loading Mortar, military lasers, FBG sensors, and 3D metal printers,” said Özkayan.
What is ALKA YESS?
According to Roketsan’s official website, series production of ALKA YESS began in 2023. The following details are provided about the system:
"ALKA, as the only energy weapon in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces, plays a role in protecting critical military facilities and government institutions. Since 2019, ALKA has been capable of neutralizing asymmetric threats such as mini/micro UAVs and drones, consistently showcasing new capabilities. With ALKA, Turkey has also gained an important defensive capability against kamikaze FPV drones, which have become a significant terror threat in recent years."
The statement notes that ALKA can track up to 100 targets simultaneously with its drone detection radar and provide close air defense within a range of 750 to 1500 meters. The system, capable of operating both day and night, can also destroy bomb traps in urban areas, roadside IEDs, and unexploded ordnance.
It was also mentioned that Roketsan is continuing its work on the ALKA NEW Laser Weapon System, which allows multiple ALKA YESS units to be directed at a single point.
The statement provides the following details:
“The development process of ALKA, an innovative, progressive, and cost-effective weapon, was initiated in July 2016 with Roketsan’s own resources. By July 2018, the production and testing of ALKA’s first prototype were successfully completed. On April 20, 2021, a contract was signed between Roketsan and the Presidency of Defense Industries for ALKA. ALKA successfully passed all validation and qualification tests and demonstrated its capabilities during an event on November 30, 2022. Roketsan continues its work on integrating YESS technology into different platforms.”
“ALKA Will Also Be Part of the Steel Dome Project”
Roketsan General Manager Murat İkinci, whose views were included in the statement, emphasized the importance of ALKA’s ability to neutralize FPV drones, which conventional weapons cannot stop.
Ikinci highlighted that ALKA can ensure the full protection of critical military facilities and government institutions from drone threats, stating:
"ALKA, with its detection radar capable of tracking multiple targets simultaneously and neutralizing them quickly, stands out for its ability to defend against swarm drone attacks. As part of Turkey’s Steel Dome Project, which will provide layered air defense, we are continuing the serial production of ALKA. We are also working on exporting ALKA to allied and friendly countries."
Developed by Roketsan, this energy weapon system strengthens the defense line against asymmetric threats. Playing a key role in protecting critical military facilities and government institutions, the system is particularly notable for its ability to neutralize modern threats such as drones.
According to the statements, the system performs effectively in both day and night conditions and demonstrates superior performance in combating new-generation threats like kamikaze drones. This advanced technology, which can destroy mini and micro UAVs with high precision, is now in serial production.
With its radar system, the weapon can track multiple targets simultaneously and occupies an essential place in Turkey's layered air defense strategy. Additionally, efforts to export the system continue.
Roketsan tarafından üretilen yönlendirilmiş enerji silah sistemi ALKA YESS’in saha performansı önceki gün Aksaray’da yapılan atışlarla test edildi.
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