IDEF 2025: Roketsan and FNSS showcase Alka-Kaplan hybrid DEWS platform

After mobility and verification tests over the last one-and-a-half years were completed, six to 12 months of integration tests of the Roketsan-FNSS Alka-Kaplan hybrid DEWS platform began recently. (FNSS)

Roketsan and FNSS showcased the Alka-Kaplan hybrid directed energy weapon system (DEWS) platform at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 being held in Istanbul from 22 to 27 July. The two companies have integrated Roketsan's Alka DEWS capable of detecting and neutralising fixed- and rotary-wing mini/micro-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and loitering munitions into FNSS's Kaplan hybrid vehicle.

The Kaplan hybrid programme began in 2021, and the technology demonstrator prototype was exhibited at IDEF 2023. The system has been developed as a hybrid powerpack solution that can be integrated into potential future tracked vehicle platforms of the FNSS product range and other tracked vehicle families requiring modernisation and life extension. After mobility and verification tests over the last one-and-a-half years were completed, integration tests begun recently and are expected to last six to 12 months, an FNSS representative told Janes on 23 July.

He said that the range of the Kaplan tracked vehicle, whose diesel engine has been replaced by a hydroelectric one, has been increased by at least 10% to 500 km and more for stop and go. It can operate 24 hours with no noise or signature, working in silent mode for 20 km at a constant speed of 10 km/h that would be increased with rubber tracks.

With the Kaplan's battery capacity of 800 V, 200 kW is available for other missions and vehicles, including the possibility of increasing the power of the Alka-Kaplan hybrid DEWS platform by 2.5 or 5 kW. DEWS, which has a separate generator, is also silent when using batteries.