The rapid rise of small drones is forcing armed forces around the world to rethink their air defence. Where traditional air defence systems were mainly designed for aircraft, helicopters and larger UAVs, the focus is now increasingly on taking out small, cheap drones. Turkish defence company ASELSAN is responding with SHARK, a compact system developed specifically for short-range protection against mini and micro UAVs.
Recent footage shows a prototype or test set-up of the system, placed in a protected test environment. The installation consists of a stabilised weapon turret with sensors and an automatic gun system designed to detect and destroy small aerial targets quickly.
Designed for the threat of small drones
SHARK is part of a broader trend in air defence: systems aimed specifically at so-called C-UAS (Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems). Small drones are a very different type of target from traditional aircraft.
They are small, cheap, often hard to detect and can be deployed in large numbers. They also usually fly low and relatively slowly, which makes classic air defence missiles often too expensive or simply inefficient against such targets.
That is why more and more countries are choosing gun systems with programmable ammunition. This also plays a central role in SHARK.
ATOM ammunition with a ‘particle effect’
According to ASELSAN, the system uses ATOM ammunition. This is programmable air defence ammunition that explodes just in front of the target and spreads a cloud of metal fragments.
This principle is often described as a “particle effect”. Instead of a single direct hit, the round creates a dense cloud of fragments at the point where the drone is. Small drones have little structural protection, so even small fragments can be enough to damage sensors, propellers or electronics.
The advantage of this concept is that it greatly increases the chance of a hit. Especially against small, agile UAVs, that can make the difference between a miss and a successful interception.
A compact system for critical infrastructure
Systems such as SHARK are not only intended for the battlefield. Protecting sensitive sites is another important goal.
Think of military bases, ammunition depots, radar installations, airfields, power plants or command centres. Such sites are increasingly targeted by small drones, because these are relatively cheap and easy to deploy.
Placing a compact short-range air defence system around such installations creates a last layer of defence. The system can detect threats autonomously or semi-autonomously and respond within seconds.
That short reaction time is essential in drone attacks, because the time between detection and impact is often only a few tens of seconds.
Lessons from conflicts such as Ukraine and Israel
The growing attention for these systems is no coincidence. Recent conflicts clearly show how quickly the threat picture is changing.
In the war in Ukraine, large numbers of drones are used every day for reconnaissance, artillery spotting and direct attacks. Besides larger systems, small commercial quadcopters also play a big role on the battlefield.
Israel, too, is regularly confronted with drones of various types, ranging from simple systems to more advanced UAVs.
These developments have exposed an important lesson: even a relatively cheap drone can cause major damage if critical infrastructure is not adequately protected.
This has led to a worldwide wave of new C-UAS systems, ranging from electronic jamming and lasers to automatic gun systems such as SHARK.
Cheaper than missile systems
An important reason for the popularity of these solutions is cost-effectiveness.
Air defence missiles are very effective, but often extremely expensive. Firing a missile costing hundreds of thousands of euros at a drone worth a few thousand euros is hardly sustainable when attacks are carried out on a massive scale.
Gun systems with programmable ammunition therefore offer an attractive alternative. The cost per interception is considerably lower, while the system can quickly engage multiple targets.
Such systems can also often be integrated into existing air defence networks, in which radar, electro-optical sensors and command systems work together.
The growing role of short-range air defence
Where short-range air defence was still a relatively niche area a few years ago, it is now becoming one of the most important parts of modern defence.
The combination of cheap drones, swarm tactics and asymmetric warfare means that almost any military base or critical infrastructure can be vulnerable.
Systems such as ASELSAN SHARK show how the industry is trying to respond to this new reality: compact, relatively affordable and fast-reacting defence against small aerial threats.
The development of these systems is therefore expected to accelerate in the coming years. Countries are investing heavily in new technologies to cope with the ever-growing wave of drones. SHARK is a clear example of this.
