According to a report by "Defense News" on the 2nd, after Turkey purchased the Russian S-400 air defense missile system, US sanctions prevented the Turkish government from obtaining the originally planned Mk 41 vertical launch system. The Turkish military decided to sign an agreement with the missile manufacturer Roketsan to develop MDAS (the shipborne missile vertical launch system developed in Turkey). The system will be equipped with Turkey’s first Class I frigate "Istanbul".
According to an anonymous source, the MDAS will be similar to the US Mk 41, but with some structural differences, such as height. MDAS will be 8 meters high, 30 centimeters more than Mk 41. The system can carry and launch Turkish-developed missile weapons, including the HİSAR series of air defense missiles and ATMCA anti-ship missiles.
The source also stated that Turkey has acquired sufficient expertise and experience in the past ten years to develop indigenous missile launch systems. The MDAS project goal is to prepare before the "Istanbul" acceptance test, but refused to publish the cost information of the project.
According to reports, MDAS originally planned to be equipped with Turkey's future TF2000-class air defense destroyer. The modified ship will be delivered to the Turkish Navy in 2027. However, the US sanctions led to a change in the plan. According to the schedule, the "Istanbul" will enter service in 2023, and the MDAS project will be accelerated.
It is expected that the MDAS variant will also be able to launch two self-developed missile weapons currently being tested in Turkey: the Siper or Hisar-U long-range air defense missile, and the "Gezgin" cruise missile (Gezgin) for ground tactical strike missions.
#accecerateThe sanction plan failed! Turkey accelerates self-developed shipborne vertical launch system to replace U.S. MK41