ASELSAN Deputy General Manager Yusuf Bora Kartal announced that the ALP 300-G radar offers superior performance in many aspects compared to the S-400 radar.
ALP 300-G Early Warning Radar, which plays an important role in Turkey's national air defense architecture, came to the agenda this time with a comparison with the S-400.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, ASELSAN Deputy General Manager Yusuf Bora Kartal stated that ALP 300-G has a function similar to the search radar used in the S-400 systems. Kartal stated that in performance comparison, the ALP 300-G is superior to the S-400 radars "in many aspects".
“Superior in many ways”
Kartal was asked whether ALP 300-G would eliminate Turkey's need for S-400. ASELSAN manager said that the two systems are not a whole on the same level, but ALP 300-G performs a task similar to the S-400's search radar.
Kartal stated that the performance of the ALP 300-G is superior in many aspects compared to the S-400 radars.
There is an important distinction here: ALP 300-G alone is not an alternative to the S-400. ALP 300-G serves in the air defense architecture of SİPER as an early warning radar. S-400 is an integrated air defense system including radar, command-control and missile launchers. For this reason, the comparison should be evaluated mainly on the radar function.
Technology of ALP 300-G
According to ASELSAN's official technical documents, ALP 300-G is an S-Band AESA radar developed for long-range early warning missions.
Radar; It is designed to detect and track air-breathing targets as well as ballistic missiles and targets with low radar cross-section from long distances. The system can also perform electronic scanning in horizontal and vertical axes.
Among the prominent technologies of ALP 300-G:
AESA radar architecture
Digital beamforming
Multi-channel receiver structure
Target detection and tracking with low RCS
Ballistic missile detection and tracking
Electronic protection measures
NATO compatible Mode 5/S IFF
Integration with air and missile defense systems
Data fusion between radars
is available.
It will be the "eye" of SİPER
The real importance of ALP 300-G stems from its role within the long-range air defense architecture of SİPER, rather than being a stand-alone radar.
Information about targets detected by radar can be shared with other elements in the air defense architecture. ASELSAN states that ALP 300-G can connect to existing radar networks and share the air picture with other systems and control notification centers.
In addition, the design features of the system include the ability of multiple ALP 300-Gs to work together to perform data fusion and transfer target tracks to each other. This capability is especially important for ballistic missile defense.
It draws attention with its mobile structure
ALP 300-G stands out not only with its technology but also with its mobile structure.
Radar; It can be carried on tactical vehicles with its radar, communication/command-control and power subsystems. According to ASELSAN's data, no disassembly or assembly is required to install and assemble the system and it can be installed and assembled in approximately 30 minutes.
The system is also designed to be transported by transport aircraft such as the C-130 and A400M.
According to the technical data announced by ASELSAN, ALP 300-G is expected to operate 24/7, with an MTBCF of 3,000 hours and a 99.9 percent readiness rate.
Developed entirely in Turkey
Another striking point in Yusuf Bora Kartal's statement was the level of localization of the radar.
Kartal said that ALP 300-G was developed in Turkey from the smallest components, including electronic chips, to the final system level.
This approach is part of Turkey's goal of indigenizing critical layers such as radar, command-control, electronic warfare and sensor fusion in air defense systems, instead of just producing missiles and launchers.
In the Turkish Air Force inventory
The first delivery of ALP 300-G was made in 2024. In ASELSAN's 2024 activity report, it is stated that the radar has entered the Turkish Armed Forces inventory and that production continues to increase the current number of ALP 300-G.
Thus, Türkiye is expanding its AESA radar family in the early warning layer of its long-range air defense architecture.
