The first Aselsan Gokdeniz naval close-in weapon system (CIWS) destined for the Turkish Navy has been integrated into the lead Istanbul (TF-100)-class frigate following the completion of its factory acceptance test (FAT). First-of-class ?stanbul is under construction at the Istanbul Shipyard Command and is planned to be commissioned in the last quarter of 2023. The FAT milestone follows the successful completion of shipborne firing tests in May 2022. First unveiled at the International Defence Industry Fair 2019 (IDEF 2019) in Istanbul, it is derived from the Korkut tracked SP anti-aircraft land system.
GOKDENIZ 35 mm Dual Barrel Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) manufactured by Aselsan (Askeri Elektronik Sanayi). The system’s primary purpose is to defend against sea skimming anti-ship missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and other precision guided weapons. It can also be employed against conventional and rotary-wing aircraft, surface ships, small water-crafts, coastal targets and floating mines. The GOKDENIZ complex along with Aselsan ATOM 35mm airburst ammunition is a CIWS variant of KORKUT Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. ASELSAN designs, develops and manufactures modern electronic systems for military and industrial customers in Turkey and abroad.
Each GOKDENIZ platform carries a variant of Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon, manufactured under licence by MKEK. The Oerlikon GDF or Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon is a towed anti-aircraft gun made by Oerlikon Contraves (now Rheinmetall Air Defence AG). The CIWS can fire up to 1100 rounds a minute up to an effective range of 4 km. The system with the Automatic Linkless Ammunition Feed Mechanism allows loading both HEI and Airburst Ammunition at the same time and switching between ammunition types as needed. The cannons can fire different types of 35×228 mm NATO-standard ammunitions including Aselsan made ATOM 35mm airburst ammunition.
ATOM 35mm airburst ammunition 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. 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. ATOM 35mm is resistant against electromagnetic jamming.
