Turkey test-fires indigenous HISAR-A missile

By Sinan Uslu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey successfully test-fired its domestically produced HISAR-A missile Thursday in the central province of Aksaray.

The Turkish National Defense Ministry said in a statement that the HISAR missile project has been successfully continuing under the Defense Industry Undersecretariat to address the needs of the Turkish Land Forces Command.

The low-altitude HISAR-A missile system will play an important role in Turkey's air defense, said the statement.

National Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli attended the test launch, which was carried out by Turkey’s leading defense contractors Roketsan and Aselsan, it said.

During the test, the missile was successfully fired from the launch system and continued to fly with programmed maneuvers and completed the flight after the firing of the second pulse engine.

HISAR missiles are defense weapons developed to protect military bases, ports, facilities and troops against air-based threats as well as to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces for a low- and medium-altitude air defense security system.

In this context, HISAR's radar, command and control and fire control systems were developed by Aselsan, while Roketsan was responsible for the development of the missile system.

HISAR systems are effective against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and air-to-ground missiles.