Turkey’s First Man-Portable Air Defense System SUNGUR Enters Service
Ismail Demir, President of the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industry, announced that SUNGUR, Turkey’s first Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS), developed as part of the Portable Air Defense Missile System Project carried out by Roketsan, has entered the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory. Demir stated on his Twitter account that:
“Our portable air defense missile system, Sungur, is at the service of the Turkish military with a version that can be launched from the shoulder by a single soldier after the (version that can be launched from various) platforms. We delivered the first batch of the Sungur weapon system, which is effective against UAVs, jets and helicopters, to the TAF.”
Demir’s post also included a short test video of SUNGUR MANPADS in action in the Black Sea. During the test-fire, which was conducted by two TAF personnel, one carrying the launcher and the other serving as an assistant, the Banshee Jet 80 High Speed Target Aircraft was used as the target aircraft, and SUNGUR hit the target aircraft precisely, as seen in the video. The shoulder-mounted MANPADS configuration of SUNGUR, which was previously fired from a platform mounted on a vehicle, was shown for the first time in the video.
The SUNGUR MANPADS was developed as part of the Portable Air Defense Missile System Project, which was launched by Roketsan in 2013 under the leadership of the Turkish Defense Industry Presidency, to replace the Stinger (FIM-92B/C) MANPADS missiles in the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory (TAF). SUNGUR is a fourth-generation MANPADS designed for short-range air defense of mobile/fixed units and facilities on the battlefield and in the rear area.
According to the Turkish Defense Industry Presidency, the SUNGUR weapon system, which has mobile firing capability, day and night target detection, recognition, identification, tracking, and 360-degree shooting capability, stands out among its counterparts due to its longer range, ability to lock on to enemy units that are beyond visual range, and Imaging Infrared Seeker, which is resistant to deception countermeasures. While the missile system’s Imaging Infrared Seeker (IIR) technology improves target accuracy, it also has a significant advantage in the destruction of air targets with its warhead, which has greater explosive power than the comparable systems in the inventory.
SUNGUR, which also has an IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) System, provides several advantages, including the ability to lock onto the target before firing and the ability to ‘fire and forget’, allowing the gunner to quickly take cover, move to another combat position, or reload after firing. Furthermore, SUNGUR, which can be integrated with Aselsan’s Air Defense Early Warning and Command Control System (HERIKKS-6), can work in tandem with other units on the battlefield.
The 80mm in diameter and 1.7m in length SUNGUR Portable Air Defense Missile System may be fired from the shoulder and from a variety of platforms. It has a maximum range of 8km and a maximum altitude of 4km+ and its missile is said to be able to reach speeds of 2.2+ Mach, similar to US-developed Stinger missiles, although no official information regarding its speed has been released as of yet.