SOM-J development now under contract
Roketsan has received a contract to develop a SOM-J variant of its cruise missile for internal carriage on the Lockheed Martin F-35, a company representative told IHS Jane's during the DSEI exhibition held in London on 9-13 September.
This version will incorporate minor modifications in external configuration needed to ensure adequate mechanical clearance within the aircraft's weapons bays.
In February, Roketsan had described the F-35 variant of SOM as "a small R&D [research and development] project", but had predicted that the programme would become more active later in the year.
The basic SOM-A relies on INS/GPS guidance and is now in production. It has been integrated on the F-4 and F-16. During a recent exercise by the Turkish Air Force, this version demonstrated "100% precision", said the company.
SOM-B1 was the first variant to add a nose-mounted imaging infrared seeker. Already in production, it is due to be delivered for the user "in a short time". Like the -A model, it carries a 230 kg high-explosive warhead.
SOM-B2 uses the same guidance as the -B1 model, but carries a precursor charge intended to penetrate the target, and a long slim follow-though penetrator intended to produce the required destructive effects. The penetrator is much longer than the warhead carried by the -B1, so encroaches on the aft section of the airframe that contained the fuel tank for the weapon's tail-mounted turbojet engine.
The fuel tank of the -B2 is located in the centre section of the weapon, and surrounds the follow-though penetrator.
These changes have slightly increased the weight of the -B2 missile. SOM-A and -B1 weighed 610 kg, but the -B2 weighs 660 kg.
