Turkish Bayraktar TB3 UCAV Completes First Firing Test, Hit Target with MAM-T Missile

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Bayraktar TB3, which recently made history by becoming the world’s first armed unmanned aerial vehicle to take off and land on a short-runway vessel, successfully completed its first firing test with the MAM-T munition to hit its target with pinpoint accuracy.

The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV departed from the Baykar Flight Training and Test Center in Keşan, Edirne, with two Roketsan MAM-T munitions onboard.

The aircraft successfully launched its first strike using Aselsan’s ASELFLIR-500 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System, hitting its designated target with pinpoint accuracy.

Now an armed unmanned aerial vehicle, the Bayraktar TB3 will continue its payload and munitions integration tests as part of its ongoing development process, in line with the predetermined timeline.

MAM-T Munition was developed for unmanned aerial vehicles and light attack aircraft for use in critical air/ground missions.

With its fixed wing structure and improved warhead,MAM-T provides the user with high strike precision and efficiency against fixed and mobile targets at longer ranges.

The MAM-T (Mini Akıllı Mühimmat-T) is a smart micro munition developed by Roketsan, primarily designed for use on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), rotary-wing platforms, and light attack aircraft.

It complements the existing MAM series (MAM-C, MAM-L) with extended range and increased warhead options. Below are the key technical specifications for the MAM-T:

General Specifications

• Type: Smart micro munition

• Role: Air-to-ground precision strike

• Weight: Approximately 94 kg (including warhead)

• Length: 1.4 meters

• Diameter: 230 mm

Warhead Options

1. High-Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG):

   • Effective against soft and semi-armored targets.

2. Thermobaric:

   • Designed for maximum effect in enclosed spaces.

3. Armor-Piercing:

   • Optimized for penetrating armored targets.

Guidance System

• Dual-mode Guidance:

  • INS/GPS (Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System) for mid-course navigation.

  • Semi-Active Laser (SAL) for terminal guidance, enabling precision strikes on designated targets.

Operational Range

• Maximum Range:

  • 30 km when launched from low altitudes.

  • 60+ km when launched from high-altitude platforms.

Launch Platforms

• Designed for integration with:

  • UAVs: Such as Bayraktar TB2, Bayraktar Akıncı, and Anka.

  • Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

Features

• Low Collateral Damage: Suitable for operations requiring precision and minimal unintended harm.

• All-weather Capability: Can operate in adverse conditions using its guidance systems.

• Modular Design: Supports multiple warhead configurations.

The MAM-T significantly enhances the strike capability of UAVs and other light platforms, enabling precision engagement of both stationary and moving targets at extended ranges.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA