UMTAS explained

UMTAS
Type:Air-to-surface, anti-tank guided missile
Origin:Turkey
Is Missile:y
Design Date:2005-2017
Manufacturer:Roketsan
Production Date:2017-current
Mass:UMTAS/LUMTAS- missile
launcherUMTAS/LUMTAS-GM-1- missile
launcherUMTAS-GM-2- missile
launcher
Length:UMTAS/LUMTAS-UMTAS/LUMTAS-GM-1-UMTAS-GM-2-
Diameter:UMTAS/LUMTAS-UMTAS/LUMTAS-GM-1-UMTAS-GM-2-
Filling:Tandem HEAT / blast-fragmentation / thermobaric
Engine:HTPB‐based solid-fuel rocket motor
Vehicle Range:UMTAS/LUMTAS-UMTAS/LUMTAS-GM-1- from vehicles, from aircraftUMTAS-GM-2- from vehicles from aircraft
Ref:Janes

UMTAS or Mizrak-U (Uzun Menzilli Tanksavar Sistemi) is a modern long range air-to-surface anti-tank guided missile developed by Turkish armor and missile manufacturer Roketsan.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Background

The UMTAS program was begun in late 2003 by Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM), specifically to provide TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK combat helicopters with an indigenous guided missile.[6] The UMTAS has been designed to engage tanks and heavily armoured vehicles.[7] It can be integrated in various platforms, including helicopters, UAVs, land vehicles, stationary platforms, light assault aircraft, ships.[2]

Description

The UMTAS missile has fire and forget and fire and update infrared guidance with a tandem anti-tank warfare warhead.[1] The laser guided version is marketed as the L-UMTAS.[2]

Abilities:[1] [2] [8]

Development

Phase 1 (design) began in 2005 and finished in 2008.[8]

Phase 2 (development and qualification) began in 2008 and finished in 2015.[7]

The L-UMTAS and UMTAS version have been integrated and fired successfully from helicopters: a Turkish TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK against land targets, and a US Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk against sea targets.

A UMTAS was test dropped successfully from a Baykar Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The missile was released at an altitude of to hit a 2×2 meter target self laser designated from the drone, from 8 kilometres away. These missile tests may be a step in a related program to use MAM weapons with Bayraktar drones.[9]

The MAM-L smart munition was developed from L-UMTAS.[10]

Serial production has begun with the delivery dates set in 2016.[7]

The Geleceğin Muharebe Sistemi (Future Combat System) version of the missile (UMTAS-GM) was displayed in 2023. UMTAS-GM-1 features dual IIR/SAL seekers in a flat split-design nose with a bidirectional RF datalink in a cylindrical body and an aligned, cruciform fold-out wing and aft fin assembly. It weighs and can be equipped with an insensitive tandem anti-tank, high-explosive blast fragmentation, or thermobaric warhead. Range is when fired from land vehicles and naval vessels and from helicopters.[11] UMTAS-GM-2 has the ability to be fired day / night, according to the type of warhead it has. It can be used against main battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers, trucks, all-terrain vehicles, light pillboxes, trenches, buildings, helicopters flying at low altitude.UMTAS-GM-2 also offers the opportunity to shoot from behind the suture by using its propulsion capacity and gliding capability. In this way, the target can be destroyed from safe distances without entering the firing range of enemy elements. With the Hybrid Seeker Head to be located on UMTAS-GM-2, it will be able to provide the user with high-resolution battlefield images at different wavelengths day and night.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UMTAS Long Range Anti-Tank Missile System . Roketsan.com.tr . 13 July 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210205123753/https://www.roketsan.com.tr/en/product/umtas-long-range-anti-tank-missile-system/. 5 February 2021.
  2. Web site: Long Range Anti-Tank Missile UMTAS « Roketsan. www.roketsan.com.tr. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210304012154/https://www.roketsan.com.tr/en/product/l-umtas-laser-guided-long-range-anti-tank-missile-system/. 4 March 2021 . live.
  3. Web site: UMTAS Long Range Anti-Tank Missile System . Army Technology . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190324035702/https://www.army-technology.com/projects/umtas-long-range-anti-tank-missile-system/ . 2019-03-24.
  4. http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Air-Launched-Weapons/UMTAS-Long-Range-Anti-Tank-System-Turkey.html UMTAS (Long Range Anti Tank System) (Turkey)
  5. Web site: UMTAS Long Range Anti-Tank Missile System . Roketsan . 2019-07-22 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414064057/http://www.roketsan.com.tr/en/urunler-hizmetler/hassas-gudumlu-fuzeler/umtas-uzun-menzilli-anti-tank-fuzesi/ . 2019-04-14.
  6. Web site: Savunma Sanayii Mustesarligi Faaliyet Raporu 2013 . Kamuda Stratejik Yönetim . 24 April 2021 . fr2013 . 99 . pdf . 2013 .
  7. News: Roketsan Shows Broad Capabilities . Aviationweek.com . 2016-04-28 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160602190915/http://aviationweek.com/singapore-airshow-2016/roketsan-shows-broad-capabilities. 2016-06-02.
  8. http://www.roketsan.com.tr/programs_eng.php?id=6 Long Range Anti-Tank Missile
  9. News: Eshel . Tamir . 19 December 2015 . Turkish UMTAS Missile Dropped From a Bayraktar Tactical Drone . Defense Update . 2016-04-28 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160413060704/http://defense-update.com/20151219_umtas_bayraktar.html . 2016-04-13.
  10. News: MAM-L Smart Micro Munition . Turkish Defence News . 2022-04-18 . en-US.
  11. Web site: 28 July 2023. IDEF 2023: Roketsan debuts long-range UMTAS-GM ATGM. Janes Information Services. https://web.archive.org/web/20230730221807/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/idef-2023-roketsan-debuts-long-range-umtas-gm-atgm. 30 July 2023. live.
  12. Web site: 2023-11-22 . Roketsan'dan LUMTAS-GM müjdesi: Menzil artışı . 2024-05-29 . tr.