C4iSR: Air
LIMA 2017: Aselsan debuts 'anti-drone jammer' system, targets Asia-Pacific countries
Ridzwan Rahmat, Langkawi - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
24 March 2017
Key PointsAselsan has developed a man-portable system designed to incapacitate hostile unmanned aerial vehiclesSystem has been developed against the backdrop of a proliferation in small commercial off-the-shelf UAV systems
An Aselsan representative demonstrating usage of the IHASAVAR 'anti-drone' system at LIMA 2017. (Aselsan)
Turkish defence company Aselsan has unveiled a man-portable 'anti-drone jammer' system at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) 2017 exhibition, and is positioning the product for the export market for the first time, a company official told Jane's.
The system, which has been developed to protect high-security facilities, such as military bases and airports from rotary-wing and fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), is designed to disrupt remote control, data link, and satellite navigation frequencies, which will effectively render an offending UAV uncontrollable.
According to an Aselsan representative who spoke toJane's at the LIMA exhibition, the system has been developed relatively quickly, over a period of six months, in response to the growing threats posed by the proliferation of commercial UAVs.
"Aselsan analysed that developing a cost-effective, man-portable, and ergonomic solution that doesn't need any sensor systems to disrupt hostile drones, would meet the high expectations of its present and future customers," said Ertugul Nacak, account manager at Aselsan's radar and electronic warfare systems.
Known as the IHASAVAR, the system consists of one 11.5 kg backpack that houses two lithium-ion batteries, and a handheld 2 kg 'rifle', which features a directional antenna that will be aimed at hostile UAVs. According to specifications provided by the company, the system can operate in temperatures that range from -30°C to 50°C and features an operation time of about 1.5 hours.
The IHASAVAR system is currently in use with the Turkish Armed Forces, and the company is currently eyeing the wider Asia-Pacific region as a potential market for the system.