Aselsan puts electronic warfare and radar imaging through live trials on Bayraktar TB2

Turkish defence electronics group Aselsan has run a live demonstration showing electronic warfare (EW) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads working together aboard a single Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The trials, staged in Konya province, were observed by more than 15 international defence delegations, according to the company. Aselsan structured the exercise around an integrated scenario combining electronic support, electronic attack and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging to detect and identify targets.

What flew on the TB2

Video released by Aselsan indicates three podded systems were carried on the airframe: the Antidot 2EA 200 electronic countermeasure (ECM) pod, the Antidot 2ES 100 electronic support measures (ESM) pod, and the Fulmar 200 active electronically scanned array (AESA) SAR pod.

In the first phase, the ESM pod detected a search radar emitter and passed target data to the ECM pod, which carried out a directed electronic attack. The demonstration then deliberately paused, allowing the target radar to reacquire and lock onto the UAV before the ECM system applied digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) techniques to interfere with the tracking radar’s operation.

The second phase paired the ESM pod, used for real-time situational awareness, with the Fulmar 200 SAR pod, which produced high-resolution imagery of the target area to support ground mapping and target identification with metre-level accuracy.

End-to-end cycle

Aselsan said the trials validated a complete operational cycle spanning detection, electronic attack and high-resolution imaging. In a typical engagement, the company added, sensors would hand off to the Aselflir 500 electro-optical system for target designation, followed by engagement with a laser-guided munition.

The company framed the demonstration as evidence that its airborne systems can deliver suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) and destruction of enemy air defences (DEAD) mission sets from a single UAV platform — a notable claim given the TB2’s widespread export success and the growing competition to package EW payloads onto medium-altitude unmanned aircraft.

The demonstration comes as precision timing and frequency control suppliers serving the defence electronics market, such as Frequency Electronics (FEIM) — which closed at $66.00 and traded down about 1.3% to $65.14 in the latest session, with a market capitalisation of roughly $730.8 million — continue to see demand tied to radar, EW and satellite communications programmes.

What to watch

• Follow-on export interest from the international delegations that attended the Konya trials.
• Any contract announcements or integration updates covering the Antidot pod family or Fulmar 200 SAR pod.
• Aselsan’s upcoming earnings and guidance for commentary on airborne EW programme momentum.

Source: original release