XPONENTIAL 2017 & IDEF 2017
The Turkish Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Undersecretariat of Defence Industries (SSM) on 28 April 2017 announced test results of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) successfully integrating the Roketsan MAM-L air-to-surface munition to the ANKA medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This weaponised UAV will still be delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces this year.
Alongside MAM-L, ANKA now carries a firing pod for Roketsan CIRIT laser-guided air-to-surface rockets, alongside Aselsan’s electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) Common Aperture Targeting System (CATS) sensor pod, which also includes laser target designator/illuminator capabilities.
The ANKA MALE UAV is currently serving as one of the Turkish Armed Forces’ main intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drones, as it can fly for 24 hours, can carry up to 200kg in payloads, and reach a maximum altitude of 9,144 metres.
Drawing on the Roketsan UMTAS’ rocket motor technology, the Smart Micro Munition (MAM-L) weighs 22.5 kilogrammes. Optimised for small deployment platforms, the MAM-L has a 10kg warhead and can provide a range of 8,000m (conditional on launch altitude). It uses a semi-active laser-homing (SALH) seeker, which allows the launch platform to engage moving targets. The MAM-L can be fitted with an optional blast fragmentation warhead, which provides a blast radius of 25 metres.
Selçuk Yasar, President and CEO of Roketsan, stated that the MAM-L will soon become the preference of many countries: “The design and application concept of the MAM-L provides its users with the capability of effectively neutralizing time critical targets, particularly those that arise during reconnaissance and surveillance missions. Meanwhile, thanks to its precision guidance and small dimensions, the MAM-L offers a solution with a low collateral damage. When compared with all the other capabilities of the armed forces, a combination of the MAM-L and a tactical UAV is the most cost effective solution. We believe that soon other countries will also start taking an interest in this solution.”
Both IDEF 2017 in Istanbul, Turkey and AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2017 in Dallas, TX/USA are showcasing the future of innovation and www.monch.com brings together key developments from these shows. For more information please see MILITARY TECHNOLOGY #5/2017, available at the shows; and frequently check back for more NEWS FROM THE FLOOR.
