Why does Ottoman need AWACS?
The Ottomans couldn't resist, and they rolled out a new AWACS aircraft in the Turkish Air Force's anniversary video. The platform is broadly similar to Western electronic warfare platforms, such as the US Air Force's EA-37B Compass Call, and once again highlights the expanding range of defense aerospace products, both manned and unmanned, as well as weapons and sensors that are currently produced in Türkiye.
A very short video featuring the HAVA SOJ (Airborne Standoff Jammer) electronic warfare system was released on the official X social media account of the Turkish Ministry of Defense. The video was created to commemorate the 115th anniversary of the Turkish Air Force. The video showcases various types of equipment, both currently in service and those in development, including the HAVA SOJ.
The first, very low-quality image of the HAVA SOJ, taken on March 1 this year, when the aircraft was making a test flight from the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) plant in Ankara.
Earlier, on February 20, two examples of this aircraft were spotted conducting test flights. Information about their departure appeared on publicly available flight tracking websites.
Around the late 2000s, Turkey and Aselsan began developing their own electronic countermeasure system for the Turkish Air Force based on the Transall C-160 turboprop transport aircraft, as shown in the photo below.
Because the program's implementation took longer than expected, the idea arose to create an interim electronic countermeasure system based on a program called Golge (meaning "shadow" in Turkish). It was intended to provide operational capability for two Global Express-based systems and incorporate equipment from local and international companies. Negotiations failed, and the Golge program was terminated in 2017.
The first Canadian Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft for the HAVA SOJ program were delivered to the TAI facility back in 2019. A total of four aircraft are planned for conversion. Interestingly, some early images related to the program showed the system installed on a Gulfstream platform.
The Global 6000 aircraft receives payloads from Aselsan, which are integrated by TAI. Several official images of the aircraft were released before the installation of the avionics systems, but since then, it has become noticeably less photogenic.
One of the Global 6000 gliders before installation of onboard equipment.
The Turkish Defence Industries Agency (SSB), the government body that manages Turkey's defence industry and implements the programme, describes the role of HAVA SOJ as follows:
Standoff jamming (SOJ) platforms are expensive assets that suppress enemy air defense radars, disrupt command and control loops, and interfere with communications by performing electronic countermeasures and creating false targets at long ranges without entering enemy airspace. In this way, they create corridors through which friendly air forces can penetrate enemy airspace. The effective use of these platforms has become an undeniable reality of modern warfare, as they multiply force and create a powerful asymmetric effect.
In addition to electronic countermeasure systems, the HAVA SOJ will be equipped with surveillance equipment, Electronic Support Measures (ESM) equipment, and a long-range airborne radar.
Much of this equipment is housed in large fairings around the fuselage.
An early Aselsan schematic shows numerous receivers, jammers, and communications equipment located around the aircraft. Photo: Aselsan
Little is known about the specifics of the equipment, but it is based on Aselsan's Koral/Kara SOJ ground-based electronic warfare system, which is installed on heavy vehicles. All aircraft systems are also developed domestically.
Koral Elektronik Harp Sistemi
The HAVA SOJ's stated primary mission is electronic reconnaissance and countermeasures through jamming. For this purpose, the aircraft is equipped with powerful active electronically scanned array (AESA) antennas, similar to those found on the Koral/Kara ground-based systems. These can be used to emit highly focused beams of electromagnetic energy to jam radars, as well as other radio frequency sensors and emitters, in the air, on land, and at sea.
We recently discussed this capability in relation to the US Air Force's EA-37B electronic warfare aircraft. Furthermore, these same active phased array antennas can be used to launch cyberattacks and other hybrid warfare components.
The US Air Force EA-37B Compass Call is an electronic attack aircraft.
In general, the idea of re-qualifying business jets into AWACS aircraft/EW This isn't new. Many countries are working in this direction, and, needless to say, minimizing the size of modern electronic systems while simultaneously increasing the efficiency of information processing is bearing fruit.
If earlier, 20-30 years ago, to create an effective ELINT or AWACS aircraft, a heavy platform like the Il-76 or Boeing-737 was required, today the Gulfstream is quite sufficient.
For example, Australia has adopted this approach with its MC-55A Peregrine intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare (AISREW) aircraft, based on the Gulfstream G550 business jet. The Peregrine is likely a multi-role platform capable of both intelligence collection and electronic warfare.
An Australian MC-55A Peregrine aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force
In practice, the HAVA SOJ will use its ESM equipment to detect and track enemy radio frequency emissions. Once the source of the emissions is detected and geolocated, its frequency will be determined. The electronic warfare element will then be activated, emitting its own signals to electronically suppress the source, either through jamming or signal spoofing.
By using AESA radars with fast scanning capabilities, such an aircraft will be able to carry out pinpoint attacks rather than simply create countermeasures, and also carry out these attacks against multiple emitters of different types and at different ranges simultaneously.
As the SSB notes, such an electronic warfare system has obvious applications against air defense systems and command and control centers. However, it is also capable of degrading communications, blocking and disrupting certain types of enemy communications, disrupting data exchange architecture, and degrading the command and control system, reducing the enemy command's ability to make effective decisions and communicate them downstream.
In peacetime, the aircraft could conduct reconnaissance missions, helping to shape the Electronic Order of Battle (EOB) of enemy forces, which would be invaluable to NATO—assuming, of course, that it is intended to interact with NATO structures.
Interestingly, the HAVA SOJ wingtips are very similar to those installed on the EA-18G Growler as part of the AN/ALQ-218 tactical electronic countermeasure system, which includes a radar warning receiver (RWR), electronic support measures (ESM), and electronic intelligence (ELINT).
EA-18G with AN/ALQ-218 tactical electronic countermeasure receiver units on the wingtips
While these aircraft are designed to operate outside hostile airspace, there are growing questions about whether such specialized aircraft can counter more powerful air defenses, given that the threat from anti-aircraftmissile The number of long-range complexes will only increase.
The answer is clear: of course not. The ever-increasing power of air defense systems is pushing such aircraft further and further away from potential enemy contact lines.
The long, canoe-shaped fairing beneath the fuselage is similar to that found on the US Army's ME-11B HADES reconnaissance aircraft and the retired Royal Air Force Sentinel R1 reconnaissance aircraft, which are also based on the Bombardier Global Express.
These aircraft carry a synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indicator (SAR/GMTI) in their canoes. Synthetic aperture radar images provide highly detailed terrain maps, while the GMTI feature allows for the detection and tracking of moving ground vehicles regardless of clouds, smoke, dust, and other obstructions.
If a similar radar were installed on the HAVA SOJ, it would provide powerful intelligence-gathering capabilities, but this cannot be said with certainty. It is also possible that active phased array antennas, which are primarily used for electronic countermeasures, could perform some of the functions of synthetic aperture, GMTI, and other radars. It is also worth noting that this aircraft actually has two ventral radomes, which could house separate antenna arrays.
A Royal Air Force Sentinel R1 before its retirement
Finally, two large satellite communications modules are installed on the aircraft's fuselage. This will allow the data collected by the aircraft to be transmitted in near real-time. Furthermore, the aircraft will undoubtedly be equipped with an impressive communications suite to ensure line-of-sight and data exchange, which is crucial for strengthening the Turkish Air Force.
When Aselsan was awarded the contract for the HAVA SOJ program in 2018, the first aircraft was scheduled to be delivered to the Turkish Air Force in 2023. This deadline has clearly been missed, which is not surprising for a program of this level of technological development.
Front view of the Global 6000 before installation of equipment for the HAVA SOJ mission.
Given Turkey's success in finding buyers for its defense products, HAVA SOJ could also attract significant interest from foreign countries, including Pakistan, which has been considered a potential partner in the past.
Aselsan also formed a joint venture with Taqnia in Saudi Arabia to market a version of HAVA SOJ called Kasih.
For foreign customers, the weapons system installed on the HAVA SOJ, like other Turkish military equipment, will not be subject to restrictions imposed under the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which may restrict the transfer of defense and military technologies and services, particularly sensitive ones, to certain countries.
Even among NATO countries in Europe, the HAVA SOJ boasts an impressive range of capabilities. The issue here isn't really one of quality—the Swedes are certainly no worse—but rather price.
As air defenses become increasingly effective even against weaker adversaries, the need for high-tech electronic warfare capabilities only grows.
While many questions about the HAVA SOJ's capabilities remain unanswered, the aircraft's increasing public appearances suggest that the long-delayed program is entering a more mature phase.
As Turkey continues to invest heavily in its own technologies, the HAVA SOJ could become one of the most powerful enhancements to the Turkish Air Force, providing long-range capabilities, including against modern integrated air defense systems.
And, of course, the temptation to sell it to others is great. And this is quite reasonable: just as China sells its technology to countries that can't afford American or Russian equipment, Turkey can also fill a niche with such customers.
So, that's the answer to the question in the title. The Ottomans aren't what they used to be; they won't conquer half the world, but they can trade with them—why not?
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