On August 16, 2024, the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs released a report detailing recent foreign arms sale (FMS) approvals. According to the report, the U.S. government approved the FMS of 94 RIM-116 missiles for the Turkish Navy.
According to the report, the $90 million FMS includes the sale of 94 Mk 44 MOD 4 (tactical) RAM guided missile packages, 3 Mk 47 MOD 9 telemetered missiles, and 1 explosive test vehicle. The package also includes transport and storage containers and technical data from the U.S. Navy’s RAM Program Office on behalf of RAM-System GmbH (RAMSYS) for the Turkish Navy.
Marine News turned to RAMSYS for comments and the transfer plan, but the company declined to comment.
The missiles will be deployed on the Turkish Navy’s ADA-class corvettes, which are equipped with the RAM point-defense missile system as part of their self-defense capabilities. The system was originally intended for installation on I-class frigates, but after the imposition of US sanctions, the Turkish defense industry decided to mount the indigenous 35mm Gökdeniz Close Combat Weapon System (CIWS) on the TCG Istanbul instead.
In order to meet the need of Turkish surface combat ships for point defense, Aselsan is developing the Göksur and Roketsan is working on the Levent Point defense missile systems. Both systems are currently in the development phase and are expected to begin testing soon.
About RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) PDMS
The RAM guided missile system is an advanced naval self-defense weapon designed to provide exceptional protection to vessels of all sizes. It is currently in service on more than 165 ships in 11 countries.
The RAM system is a lightweight, fast-response, fire-and-forget, supersonic weapon designed to destroy anti-ship missiles. Since no additional direction is required during launch, the passive radio and infrared guidance system provides high firepower to combat multiple threats simultaneously. The missile is continuously improved to stay ahead of the ever-evolving threat posed by anti-ship missiles, helicopters, aircraft and surface vehicles.
The system uses the airframe, warhead and rocket engine of the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile, a laser pulse proximity fuze derived from the Sidewinder, an infrared seeker from the FIM-92 Stinger and a contact fuze derived from the US Navy’s RIM-66/67 standard missiles.
Specifications:
- Length: 2.82m
- Diameter: 127mm
- Weight: 73.5 kg
- Range: 5.4 nautical miles
- Warhead: 10 kg warhead with fragmentation effect
- Steering: passive, radar, IR
- Propulsion: Solid fuel