Turkish ASELSAN's MURAD AESA Radar Completes Maiden Flight with F-16 OZGUR Warplane

ASELSAN's MURAD Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar recently conducted its first flight alongside the F-16 ÖZGÜR warplane.

“ASELSAN's National AESA Aircraft Nose Radar made its first flight with the F-16 ÖZGÜR platform. It will provide great capability gains to our aircraft with simultaneous air-air and air-ground missions, multiple target detection/tracking, beyond-visual missile guidance, high-resolution ground imaging and electronic warfare functions,” the company confirmed in a social media post today.

This demonstration provided data for further testing and development of the radar system.

Future plans for the MURAD include continued testing and integration onto various platforms such as the Bayraktar AKINCI TİHA, as well as other air platforms like KIZILELMA, KAAN, HÜRJET, ANKA III, AKINCI, and F-16.

According to Presidential Defense Industry President Prof. Dr. Haluk GÖRGÜN, the integration of the AESA radar will align the F-16 ÖZGÜR with 4.5 generation aircraft standards. Additionally, the radar's integration could enhance the capabilities of other platforms like KAAN and combat UAVs, providing them with additional functionalities and low visibility features.

The ÖZGÜR Project aims to modernize F-16 Block 30 warplanes with domestic avionics and software, including the National AESA Radar. This initiative is expected to bring the capabilities of the F-16 ÖZGÜR aircraft in line with those of the F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft, ensuring uniformity and effectiveness across the fleet.

Key functions and capabilities of the National AESA Radar include long-range search, multiple target tracking, ground target detection and tracking, weather detection, automatic target recognition, and electronic attack.