Why Türkiye’s new Gürz 150 air defense system could surpass the Russian Pantsir-S1 in modern air defense.

As reported by Sam Cranny-Evans on January 4, 2025, Aselsan's Gürz hybrid air defense system entered serial production in 2024, positioning itself as a potential alternative to the Russian Pantsir-S1. The Turkish system was first presented at international exhibitions such as the World Defense Show 2024 in Saudi Arabia and SAHA 2024 in Türkiye. The Gürz 150 is designed as a multi-effector air and missile defense system capable of autonomous operation, threat evaluation, and weapon assignment through its fire control algorithm, integrating advancements that may offer advantages over existing systems like the Pantsir-S1.
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The final configuration of the Gürz 150 air defense system is expected to incorporate several defensive measures, such as RF jamming, AESA search and fire control radars, the Kangal jammer, and the Gökberk laser weapon. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Gürz 150 integrates hard-kill and soft-kill capabilities for point defense, including a 35mm automatic cannon capable of firing air-bursting munitions and land-based variants of the Gökdoğan and Bozdoğan air-to-air missiles. The system features onboard target acquisition and engagement radars. The final configuration is expected to incorporate additional defensive measures, such as RF jamming, AESA search and fire control radars, the Kangal jammer, and the Gökberk laser weapon. The system's weapon subsystems include a 35mm air defense gun, four Very Short Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) missiles, four Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) missiles, and a machine gun for self-defense.

The Gürz 150 is capable of engaging a range of aerial threats, including UAVs, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and supersonic missiles. The system’s sensor suite includes an AESA radar, IFF capability, an integrated tracking platform, and an electro-optical targeting suite for target detection and engagement. It is designed to counter UAVs of various classes, swarm attacks, air-to-ground missiles, and cruise missiles. The modular structure supports the addition of new features and capabilities.

Mounted on an 8x8 wheeled tactical vehicle, the Gürz 150 is designed for mobility and rapid deployment. It supports fire-on-the-move functionality. The system can operate independently or as part of a squadron, with one unit acting as the squadron master for coordinated engagements. Its fast reaction time and ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously contribute to its operational effectiveness. The system also includes a soft-kill capability using the Kangal electronic warfare system for electromagnetic jamming and spoofing.

The Pantsir-S1, developed by Russia, is a short to medium-range air defense system that combines automatic anti-aircraft guns and surface-to-air missiles. It is mounted on a wheeled or tracked chassis and uses dual-band radar for target acquisition and guidance. It is capable of engaging aerial threats, including aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and precision munitions. The system's engagement range extends up to 20 km, with a maximum altitude of 15 km.

The Pantsir-S1 is equipped with twelve 57E6 surface-to-air missiles and two twin-barrel 30mm 2A38M automatic cannons. Its fire control system includes an electro-optical sensor and radar guidance, allowing for simultaneous tracking and engagement of multiple targets. Operational challenges have been reported in detecting and countering low-speed, small UAV threats, resulting in refinements to its radar and targeting systems. The system has been reported to have vulnerabilities in modern combat scenarios, with losses recorded in conflicts.

Compared to the Pantsir-S1, the Gürz 150 features a modular design with AESA radar and electronic warfare capabilities. While both systems provide point defense, the Gürz 150 employs a multi-layered approach that includes hard-kill and soft-kill measures, such as laser weapons and RF jammers. The modular structure of the Gürz 150 supports future upgrades, whereas the Pantsir-S1 has required continuous refinements to address operational limitations. Furthermore, the Gürz 150 is designed for autonomous operation, coordinated squadron use, and engagement of multiple threat types with various effectors. Other countries have also developed similar systems, such as Germany with the Skyranger 30, and China with the SWS2 and the Type 625E.

The Gürz 150 is armed with a 35mm anti-aircraft gun, four Sungur Very Short-Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) missiles, four Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) missiles (either the Göksur or the Hisar-A+), and a machine gun for self-defense. (Picture source: Army Recognition)