The U.S. government has recently authorized the sale of new RIM-116 missiles to enhance the air defense capabilities of Turkey’s Ada-class corvettes. This transaction, which requires an investment of $90 million, was negotiated through RAM-System GmbH (RAMSYS). This was reported in a recent report prepared by the U.S. House Committe on Foreign Affairs, detailing recent approvals for potential military sales abroad.
Specifically, the package requested by the Turkish Navy includes a total of 94 RIM-116 missiles and 3 telemetry missiles Mk 47 MOD 9, along with storage containers for transporting them from the U.S. The expected delivery schedule has not yet been released, although it is known that Turkey’s intention to acquire these systems dates back to the equipment process for the I-class frigates. These plans were thwarted by the imposition of U.S. sanctions and the subsequent decision to replace them with 35 mm Gökdeniz CIWS systems.
Regarding some known features of the RIM-116 system acquired by Turkey, it is worth mentioning that it is a solid-fueled missile with a range of up to 9 kilometers. Each unit has a 10-kilogram explosive warhead and is guided by radar and infrared (IR) sensors similar to those used in the FIM-92 Stinger, all within dimensions of 2.82 meters in length and a diameter of 127 mm. To date, these guided missiles are used by a total of eleven naval forces worldwide, including the navies of Germany, Greece, and the U.S., among others.
Finally, it is worth noting that Turkey’s military-industrial complex is currently working on its own air defense missile systems for Turkish Navy vessels, namely the Roketsan Levent system and the Göksur system from Aseslan and TUBITAK SAGE. The former is capable of operating autonomously and integrated with each ship’s sensors, featuring up to 11 missiles (derived from the SUNGUR missile line) with a range of up to 11 kilometers. The Göksur system, on the other hand, is equipped with four fixed-face AESA radars and 12 BOZDOGAN missiles, which are guided by a high-precision IR sensor and can be used against multiple targets simultaneously.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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