터키가 개발하고 있는 크루즈미사일 SOM

 

 

SOM Strides

Turkish cruise missile effort makes inroads

Aviation Week & Space Technology, 09/19/2011

Author : Robert Wall

 

Turkey has huge ambitions when it comes to its defense industry, including building fighters and trainers. But much time and the crossing of many stepping-stones will be required to achieve these goals.

 

Ankara is seemingly on the right path, though, with several efforts starting to bear fruit. Last year, the country introduced the medium-altitude, long-endurance Anka unmanned aircraft, and it is taking the first big steps into the guided-missile sector with the start of Standoff Missile (SOM) flight trials.

 

SOM is intended to evolve into a family of air-launched weapons, and Turkey’s Scientific and Technological Research Council (SAGE) plans an evolution of the weapon for internal carriage on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. It is the first major missile foray for SAGE, which also worked on the HGK, a Turkish GPS/INS bomb guidance kit for the 2,000-lb. Mk. 84 similar to the Boeing Joint Direct Attack Munition.

 

The SOM family includes the GPS/INS-guided SOM-A, the SOM-B1 with an imaging infrared terminal seeker that augments the GPS/INS package, and the SOM-B2, which uses a precursor charge and follow-through penetrator warhead. The 1,300-lb. weapon features a 500-lb. warhead and a range of more than 100 nm.

 

The missile’s designers have reduced its radar cross section and may equip it with some radar-absorbing material.

 

The missile family is powered by the TR-40 turbojet. After weapons release, the missile glides to the altitude for engine start, where the engine covers are released.

 

SOM-A completed its first guided flight test last month. The weapon was launched from a Turkish air force F-4 by the first Air Supply & Maintenance Center at Eskisehir. Captive-carry and separation tests were completed in May to pave the way for flight trials. The GPS/INS-guided weapon flew 12 waypoints during the test, says Program Manager onder Okyay.

 

Although the test represents a big milestone for the program, the development efforts also underscore that Turkish industry still has some distance to go, according to a representative of a European missile maker. He notes that the weapon is still far from a sophisticated cruise missile and that, because of its limited range and maneuvering capability, it is more of a powered glide bomb.

 

Flight trials of the SOM-B1 are due to start this year.

 

Next year, developers expect to commence work on tests aimed at certifying the SOM-A and SOM-B1 for F-16 and F-4 use next year. The SOM-B2 should start flight trials next year and be certified on both platforms by the end of 2013.

 

The Turkish government is looking to place a mixed order of SOM-As and SOM-B1s in 2013, although the exact size of the order and weapons split has not been resolved, yet. The schedule for the SOM-B2 order is still in flux.

 

Design activity is under way on the Block 20 version, the one for F-35 internal carriage, is and will focus on the fins and other interfaces. Okyay acknowledges that the SOM as is would not fit in the stealth fighter’s internal bay. The government has discussed the matter with F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin and the U.S.-led Joint Program Office.

 

The organization has also begun talks with other JSF partner countries about potential interest in the missile. SAGE also is pushing the HGK for JSF use and says the kit is part of the Block 4 upgrade of the fighter.

 

Another evolution on SAGE’S drawing board is a plan to equip the missile with a data link to provide target updates and battle damage indication.

 

 

  ⓒ TÜBİTAK SAGE