Turkish defense giant ASELSAN upgrades F-16 jets with national self-protection system

Turkish defense giant ASELSAN has equipped the country’s F-16 fighter jet fleet with the newly-developed indigenous electronic self-protection system.

The EW self-protection suite (SPEWS-II) is an advanced, internally mounted self-protection system specifically designed for F-16 Block 50-C aircrafts.

Providing complete self-protection, it features an integrated Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) Suite against ballistic missile threats, providing pilots with situational awareness and deceptive RF jamming. The AN/ALQ-178 (V) 5+ provides intelligent control of chaff/ flare dispenser systems for enhanced and coordinated ECM response.

So far, 22 F-16 fighter jets have been equipped with the new self-protection system.

The domestic development of this electronic system marks an important milestone for Turkey’s growing defense industry.

President Erdoğan had previously vowed that Turkey’s progress would continue in the defense industry, saying that the country had more than halved its foreign dependence from 80 percent in 2002 to 35 percent at present.

“Turkey’s military capacity and economic, political and diplomatic capabilities must be robust,” he said, adding that the deterrence of its defense sector had to be “particularly” high.

Founded in 1975 in the capital Ankara, Aselsan, which produces military radios and defense electronic systems for the Turkish Armed Forces, is seen as Turkey's premier defense systems producer.