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Turkey tests armed UAV for first time
Nicholas de Larrinaga, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
21 December 2015
Screenshot taken from a Baykar video of the release of a Roketsan SMM from a Bayraktar TB2 UAV on 17 December 2015. Source: Baykar Technologies
Turkey has dropped ordnance from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the first time, making it one of only a handful of countries to have indigenously designed an armed UAV.
A Bayraktar TB2 UAV dropped a Roketsan Smart Micro Munition (SMM) (MAM - Mini Akilli Mühimmat) on 17 December.
Bayraktar TB2 UAV taxis prior to conducting trials with the Roketsan SMM. (Baykar Technologies)
According to manufacturer Baykar Makina the weapon release was conducted from 16,000 ft, with the munition hitting a target 8 km away. Footage of the weapons drop released by Baykar Makina showed an orange test missile being dropped from the port wing of a Bayraktar TB2 and hitting the central 1 m x 1 m area of a roughly 3 m x 3 m target board. During the test the UAV also carried an SMM marquette on its starboard wing, which was not dropped.
The SMM is a laser-guided gliding munition derived from Roketsan's UMTAS (also known as Mizrak) anti-tank guided missile and the Çirit laser-guided rocket. The small unpowered weapon combines the seeker from the Çirit with most of the components of the UMTAS, minus its rocket motor.
Bayraktar TB2 UAV taxis prior to conducting trials with the Roketsan SMM. A test SMM is visible under its starboard wing, with a SMM maquette present under the port wing. (Baykar Technologies)
The Bayraktar TB2 (also known as Bayraktar Block 2) is a tactical medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV ordered by the Turkish Land Forces. It is based on the earlier Bayraktar tactical UAV but is about a third larger, with a 12 m wingspan and a range of at least 150 km (datalink dependent). In separate demonstration flights the TB2 has flown to an altitude of 27,030 ft, and demonstrated an endurance of 24 h 34 min.
Screenshot showing the fall of a Roketsan SMM towards a target, the flight of the weapon is highlighted. (Baykar Technologies)
The Turkish Land Forces have ordered a total of 18 Bayraktar TB2 UAVs, divided between three unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The first UAS was scheduled to be delivered to Turkey in November 2014, and photos released by Baykar Makina following the first weapons drop show a complete UAS of six Bayraktar TB2 UAVs and containerised ground control stations, indicating that at least one UAS was indeed in Turkish service.
Turkey tests armed UAV for first time | IHS Jane's 360
Nicholas de Larrinaga, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
21 December 2015
Screenshot taken from a Baykar video of the release of a Roketsan SMM from a Bayraktar TB2 UAV on 17 December 2015. Source: Baykar Technologies
Turkey has dropped ordnance from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the first time, making it one of only a handful of countries to have indigenously designed an armed UAV.
A Bayraktar TB2 UAV dropped a Roketsan Smart Micro Munition (SMM) (MAM - Mini Akilli Mühimmat) on 17 December.
Bayraktar TB2 UAV taxis prior to conducting trials with the Roketsan SMM. (Baykar Technologies)
According to manufacturer Baykar Makina the weapon release was conducted from 16,000 ft, with the munition hitting a target 8 km away. Footage of the weapons drop released by Baykar Makina showed an orange test missile being dropped from the port wing of a Bayraktar TB2 and hitting the central 1 m x 1 m area of a roughly 3 m x 3 m target board. During the test the UAV also carried an SMM marquette on its starboard wing, which was not dropped.
The SMM is a laser-guided gliding munition derived from Roketsan's UMTAS (also known as Mizrak) anti-tank guided missile and the Çirit laser-guided rocket. The small unpowered weapon combines the seeker from the Çirit with most of the components of the UMTAS, minus its rocket motor.
Bayraktar TB2 UAV taxis prior to conducting trials with the Roketsan SMM. A test SMM is visible under its starboard wing, with a SMM maquette present under the port wing. (Baykar Technologies)
The Bayraktar TB2 (also known as Bayraktar Block 2) is a tactical medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV ordered by the Turkish Land Forces. It is based on the earlier Bayraktar tactical UAV but is about a third larger, with a 12 m wingspan and a range of at least 150 km (datalink dependent). In separate demonstration flights the TB2 has flown to an altitude of 27,030 ft, and demonstrated an endurance of 24 h 34 min.
The Turkish Land Forces have ordered a total of 18 Bayraktar TB2 UAVs, divided between three unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The first UAS was scheduled to be delivered to Turkey in November 2014, and photos released by Baykar Makina following the first weapons drop show a complete UAS of six Bayraktar TB2 UAVs and containerised ground control stations, indicating that at least one UAS was indeed in Turkish service.
Turkey tests armed UAV for first time | IHS Jane's 360
