TAI successfully weaponizes Anka UAV with MAM-L

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) successfully integrated the Roketsan MAM-L air-to-surface munition to the Anka medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The Turkish Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Undersecretariat of Defence Industries (SSM) announced the integration and test results on Friday, April 28.

Notes & Comments:

Alongside the MAM-L, the Anka was displayed carrying a firing pod for Roketsan CİRİT laser-guided air-to-surface rockets. The same Anka drone was also fitted with an electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensor pod. Aselsan’s EO/IR pods, such as the Common Aperture Targeting System (CATS), also include laser target designator/illuminator capabilities.

The Anka MALE UAV is currently serving as the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) main intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drone. Development of the Anka began in 2004, and the first aircraft conducted its maiden test flight in 2010. In 2013, the SSM awarded TAI with a contract to supply 10 Anka-A UAVs. In 2015, TAI also flew the improved Anka-B, which can carry a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) pod.

The Anka can fly for 24 hours. It can carry up to 200 kg in equipment and reach a maximum altitude of 9, 144 metres (i.e. 30,000 ft). The armed Anka will be delivered to the TSK in 2017.

Drawing on the Roketsan UMTAS’ rocket motor technology, the Smart Micro Munition (MAM-L) weighs 22.5 kg. Optimized for small deployment platforms (e.g. drones), the MAM-L has a 10-kg warhead and can provide a range of 8,000 metres (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 fit with an optional blast fragmentation warhead, which provides a blast radius of 25 metres.