Turkey’s Armed Drone System SONGAR Is Being Equipped With A 40mm Rotary Grenade Launcher
ASISGUARD, which operates in the Turkish defense and cyber security sectors, is continuing to improve its SONGAR Drone Systems and add additional payload configurations. Within the scope of these ongoing tests, the company recently successfully integrated Repkon Defense Systems’ RDS40-MGL 40 mm multiple grenade launcher into the SONGAR system. Shortly after the completion of these integration efforts, SONGAR successfully completed its first test-fire with a 6-chamber rotary grenade launcher.
In a statement on the development, Asisguard General Manager Barış Düzgün commented that with the integration of the grenade launcher, SONGAR gained the ability to fire more shots and hit its targets more effectively. Düzgün stated, “Our efforts regarding various payload options are ongoing. Additionally, we are actively working on a 2-axis gimbal design to support night operations based on customer demands from the field. This will enable us to conduct operations with night vision capabilities.”
The director of business development and corporate communications at Repkon Defense Systems, Uğur Cem Gürpınar, highlighted their achievement in developing an innovative utilization concept for their 6-barrel rotary grenade launcher—which is described as the lightest in its class and is manufactured with steel with rifling in the barrel—made via the flowforming process.
SONGAR is the Turkish Armed Forces’ first drone system to be equipped with a machine gun and firing stabilization. The system’s primary goal is to detect threat elements from a secure distance or to neutralize previously detected targets without sending personnel into a dangerous area. According to the information provided by the company, the system has an ergonomic design to reduce the operator’s burden, it has a return home function if signal is lost, the ability to change its mission during flight, autonomous and manual control flight modes, and can be easily transported and deployed. The Ground Control Station can display and record drone video, flight telemetry data, and drone flight position on a moving map. Starting and stopping the video recording, as well as selecting and displaying a recorded video from the previous records, are all possible from the Ground Control Station.
The weapon load that SONGAR Drone Systems can carry varies depending on the needs of the user. The SONGAR system, which was originally armed with a 5.56x45mm machine gun, has undergone numerous improvements over time. The 7.62×39 mm infantry rifle developed by Sarsılmaz Weapons Industry, the 6-barreled rocket launcher system developed by Troy Technology Defense, the 40 mm grenade launcher developed by Aktaş Weapons, and the 81mm Togan munition developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE were all integrated into the system as part of these developments.
Going forward, ASISGUARD plans to further develop the SONGAR system by integrating an 81mm triple mortar drop system and 60mm munition of the Machinery and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE). In addition, efforts are underway to integrate the high-power laser system EREM, developed in collaboration with TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, HAVELSAN, and Asisguard, into Songar.