ASELFLIR-500 is a high-performance electro-optical reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting system developed by ASELSAN. It is designed to be integrated into various aerial platforms such as fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The system was developed to meet modern combat needs, including high-resolution imaging, advanced target tracking capabilities, laser designation, and range measurement.
Development Process and First Flight
Development work for ASELFLIR-500 began in 2021, and the system quickly achieved significant technical gains. Its first flight was conducted in March 2023. In the subsequent period, the system demonstrated high performance in tests conducted on two different aircraft in July 2023, proving its superiority when compared to rival electro-optical systems.
On February 23, 2024, within the scope of a test flight with Bayraktar AKINCI, the national integration of ASELFLIR-500 was successfully carried out, and the flight tests of the system were completed at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu.
Technical Specifications
- Entrance Aperture Diameter: 220 mm
- Weight: 52 kg ± 5% (reduced from 57 kg compared to the previous version)
- Dimensions: 480 mm width, 520 mm height (in forward-looking position)
- Operating Temperature: -40°C to +52°C
- Storage Temperature: -55°C to +70°C
- Coverage Angles:
- Pan: 360° continuous rotation
- Tilt: +95° to -110°
Camera Systems
HD IR (Infrared) Camera
- Resolution: 1280×1024
- Wavelength: 3–5 µm (MWIR)
- Field of View: 0.86° – 25°
HD Day TV (Daylight Camera)
- Resolution: 4096×2880 (1920×1080 in the previous generation)
- Continuous Zoom: 0.5° – 30°
- Full HD (1920x1080p) video output, without digital magnification
HD SWIR Camera
- Resolution: 1280×1024
- Field of View: 0.66° – 1.1°
Laser Systems
- Laser Target Designator and Rangefinder:
- Wavelength: 1064 nm
- Range: Up to 35 km (increased from 30 km compared to the previous version)
- Coding: STANAG 3733 (Ed. 3)
- Laser Pointers:
- Wavelength: 808 nm (NIR/SWIR night vision compatible)
Key Capabilities
- Advanced Image Processing: AI-supported image processing in IR, Day TV, and SWIR channels
- Multi-Target Tracking: Simultaneous tracking of multiple targets
- Moving Target Analysis: Target direction and speed can be determined
- Precise Stabilization: Superior stabilization against vibration and shaking
- Automatic Platform Alignment
- Digital Video Processing: Fully digital infrastructure
- Sensor Alignment Unit: Precise alignment with an internally integrated unit
Application Areas and Platforms
ASELFLIR-500 can be integrated into both rotary-wing (such as helicopters) and fixed-wing (aircraft, UAVs) aerial vehicles. So far, the system has been seen in use on UAVs such as Bayraktar TB2, ANKA, and Bayraktar AKINCI. It also plays a significant role in intelligence, surveillance, targeting, and precise engagement missions in the modern battlefield.
Strategic Importance and Comparative Superiority
ASELFLIR-500 is considered a significant technological leap following ASELSAN's previously developed CATS system. The upgrading of the daylight camera to the same resolution level as ASELFLIR-600 demonstrates the current state of Turkey's domestic and national production capacity in the electro-optical field. Thanks to its high quantum efficiency sensors and advanced stabilization systems, ASELFLIR-500 is a strategic system that directly enhances operational success, enabling security forces to detect critical targets more precisely.
