Roketsan from Turkiye launches serial production of UMTAS-GM anti-tank missile

Turkish company Roketsan starts production of a new UMTAS-GM rocket, General Manager of Roketsan Murat Ikinci said, trend reports via TurkicWorld echoed by MenaFN. According to Ikinci, it is expected to complete its serial production by the end of 2023. “The need for anti-tank missiles will also be met at the expense of national capabilities,” the company’s general manager said.

UMTAS-GM (Uzun Menzilli Tanksavar Sistemi – Geleceğin Muharebe Sistemi, meaning Long-Range Anti-Tank System – Future Combat System) is an advanced anti-tank missile developed by Roketsan. It has a range of up to 8 kilometers and can hit targets at a maximum altitude of 4 kilometers. The missile is designed to be launched from various platforms, including helicopters (namely the new Atak 2), UAVs, and ground vehicles. It features a dual-mode imaging seeker, which allows it to accurately hit both stationary and moving targets, day or night.

The missile is equipped with an armor-piercing tandem warhead, which can penetrate heavy armor up to 1,200 mm thick. The tandem warhead consists of two stages; the first stage penetrates the armor, while the second stage detonates inside the target, causing maximum damage.

The missile uses an inertial navigation system (INS) and a global positioning system (GPS) for navigation and guidance. The INS provides the missile’s position and velocity data, while the GPS allows the missile to accurately navigate to its target.

The UMTAS-GM missile has a length of 1.9 meters, a diameter of 160 millimeters, and weighs around 47 kilograms. It has a speed of Mach 0.9 and can reach its maximum range in under 30 seconds. The missile’s propulsion system is a solid-fuel rocket motor, which provides the necessary speed and maneuverability.