“The First Launch of UMTAS-GM was Made, and by the End of the Year, it will be Ready for Serial Production with its Qualification Completed”

Defence Turkey: IDEF '23 is coming up soon, and you held a successful press conference at the previous IDEF fair. Do you have such a plan this year as well?

Murat İKİNCİ: Some of our surprises are being saved for IDEF, and we'll be announcing them there.

Defence Turkey: Can you provide some details about the recently revealed new missile known as UMTAS-GM, and how it differs its predecessor, UMTAS? 

Murat İKİNCİ:The UMTAS-GM missile will have a Man-in-the-loop system via datalink. It will have an extended range and the ability to be launched from both ground platforms and helicopters. Its wings are designed to be larger and expandable, and it will use a solid fuel rocket motor. The initial range target for the missile is 25 kilometers, with plans to introduce versions with ranges of 30 and 40 kilometers later.

Defence Turkey: Some users have criticized UMTAS for having a lower resolution imaging system compared to other products in the market, which was preferred to be cost-effective. However, ASELSAN has developed newer and higher resolution cameras, such as 640x512, for the missile. Since UMTAS-GM is expected to have a range beyond 25 kilometers, will there be any changes in the imaging system?

Murat İKİNCİ: The primary change in UMTAS-GM will be the integration of a hybrid seeker, which implies that imaging will not be solely dependent on an IR camera, but rather a combination of two.

Defence Turkey: Does the term hybrid refer to the use of both IR and millimeter wave radar?

Murat İKİNCİ: No, the use of IR and high-resolution CCD day camera.

Defence Turkey: Can you clarify whether the datalink range of UMTAS-GM will be adequate for distances greater than 25 kilometers?

Murat İKİNCİ: The range of the datalink has been extended significantly and will be much greater than the current range.

Defence Turkey: When can we expect UMTAS-GM to be deployed in the field?

Murat İKİNCİ: Our target is the end of this year. The first launch of UMTAS-GM was made, and by the end of the year, it will be ready for serial production with its qualification completed.

Defence Turkey: Is UMTAS-GM being developed by ROKETSAN on a contractual basis or using its own resources?

Murat İKİNCİ: The development of UMTAS-GM is being fully funded by ROKETSAN, and our company is currently dedicating all of its revenue towards R&D and developing derivative products. 

Defence Turkey: Which platforms are being targeted here? Is it the Land Forces' ATAK and ATAK-2 helicopters?

Murat İKİNCİ: Target platforms include helicopters, armed unmanned surface vehicles, and land vehicles. Weapon Carriers (WC) and armored vehicles similar to KMC that are capable of firing anti-tank missiles will be able to use this missile. However, it should be noted that the missile's range will be greater when fired from a helicopter.

Defence Turkey: AKYA has undergone some modifications and improvements. Can you provide more details about this improvement process? When will it be operational?

Murat İKİNCİ: AKYA is currently in use by the Turkish Naval Forces. AKYA is not a platform expected to be finished, it is constantly being improved. It is a platform on which we will integrate new technologies. Together with ORKA, the AKYA family will have significant features for underwater warfare.

Defence Turkey: In the ORKA National Lightweight Torpedo Project, ROKETSAN carried out some activities, and then a contract was signed with ASELSAN. Did you become a subcontractor of ASELSAN? That was the impression conveyed during the ceremony.

Murat İKİNCİ: No, on the contrary, ROKETSAN the main contractor for the ORKA project and is working in partnership with ASELSAN. There is a specific work distribution between the two companies. By leveraging the experience gained from the AKYA project, we are jointly developing a lightweight torpedo that can be launched from aircraft much faster.

Defence Turkey: Can you provide us an update on the ORKA Project's current schedule, which is being carried out by the ROKETSAN-ASELSAN partnership? When will ORKA be in the field?

Murat İKİNCİ: The development work of ORKA is currently ongoing and it is expected to be seen in the field within the next 1 to 2 years.

Defence Turkey: Earlier, there were plans for a submersible version of ATMACA (also known as Sub-ATMACA/Encapsulated ATMACA), which was said to have a hybrid seeker featuring both IR and RF guidance. Is this still valid?

Murat İKİNCİ: We are working on both IR and RF versions of ATMACA. The decision on which version to use will depend on the operational requirements of the Turkish Naval Forces. We will be able to launch both versions from submarines. There will not be a hybrid seeker, there will be two separate missiles, and the desired missile will be fired depending on the target to be engaged.

Defence Turkey: Thank you for taking the time for this interview on behalf of our readers