UMTAS
Encyclopedia
UMTAS is a long range air-to-surface
anti-tank missile developed by Turkish
armor and missile manufacturer Roketsan
.
's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM), specifically to provide T-129 ATAK
combat helicopters with an indigenous guided missile
. Following successful completion of Phase-1 under the Design Contract dated 29 September 2005 with Roketsan, Phase-2 Development Contract was signed between SSM and Roketsan on 31 July 2008. The project is being carried out in accordance with the Phase-2 contract.
guidance
with a tandem anti-armor warhead
. It is capable of engaging targets at 8 kilometers.
LRAT, which is also adaptable to land platforms, has the following capabilities:
Roketsan is also planning to produce versions of the missile that can be land vehicle-launched and intends to offer the UMTAS for export.
According to Russian military sources, it is envisaged that the UMTAS missile will exceed the performance of the AGM-114 Hellfire
(USA) and Spike-ER
(Israel) missiles.
Air-to-surface missile
An air-to-surface missile is a missile designed to be launched from military aircraft and strike ground targets on land, at sea, or both...
anti-tank missile developed by Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
armor and missile manufacturer Roketsan
Roketsan
Roketsan is a major Turkish weapons manufacturer and defense contractor based in the central Anatolian province of Ankara. Incorporated in 1988 by Turkey's Defense Industry Executive Committee in order to establish the nation's industrial base on rocket technology, the company has quickly risen to...
.
Background
UMTAS program was initiated in 2005 by TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM), specifically to provide T-129 ATAK
TAI/AgustaWestland T-129
The TAI/AgustaWestland T-129 is an attack helicopter currently under development for the Turkish Army...
combat helicopters with an indigenous guided missile
Guided Missile
Guided Missile is a London based independent record label set up by Paul Kearney in 1994.Guided Missile has always focused on 'the underground', preferring to put out a steady flow of releases and developing the numerous GM events around London and beyond....
. Following successful completion of Phase-1 under the Design Contract dated 29 September 2005 with Roketsan, Phase-2 Development Contract was signed between SSM and Roketsan on 31 July 2008. The project is being carried out in accordance with the Phase-2 contract.
Description
UMTAS missile features "fire and forget" and "fire and update" infraredInfrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
guidance
Guidance system
A guidance system is a device or group of devices used to navigate a ship, aircraft, missile, rocket, satellite, or other craft. Typically, this refers to a system that navigates without direct or continuous human control...
with a tandem anti-armor warhead
Warhead
The term warhead refers to the explosive material and detonator that is delivered by a missile, rocket, or torpedo.- Etymology :During the early development of naval torpedoes, they could be equipped with an inert payload that was intended for use during training, test firing and exercises. This...
. It is capable of engaging targets at 8 kilometers.
LRAT, which is also adaptable to land platforms, has the following capabilities:
- Lock-on before and after launch
- Can be used in day or night and in adverse weather conditions
- Tandem warhead, effective against reactive armors
- Insensitive munition characteristics against liquid fuel fire and bullet hits
- Communication of seeker image to the user and command by user using Data Link.
Roketsan is also planning to produce versions of the missile that can be land vehicle-launched and intends to offer the UMTAS for export.
Development
Flight tests for the development phase of LRAT have been started.According to Russian military sources, it is envisaged that the UMTAS missile will exceed the performance of the AGM-114 Hellfire
AGM-114 Hellfire
The AGM-114 Hellfire is an air-to-surface missile developed primarily for anti-armor use. It has multi-mission, multi-target precision-strike capability, and can be launched from multiple air, sea, and ground platforms. The Hellfire missile is the primary 100 lb-class air-to-ground precision...
(USA) and Spike-ER
Spike (missile)
Spike is a fourth generation man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile with tandem-charged HEAT warhead, developed and designed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and in service with a number of nations....
(Israel) missiles.