Ground Warfare

Roketsan KMC CIRIT Antitank Missile System Enter Service in Turkish Armed Forces

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Roketsan KMC CIRIT Antitank Missile System Enter Service in Turkish Armed Forces
Roketsan KMC CIRIT Antitank Missile System Enter Service in Turkish Armed Forces

The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that Roketsan General Manager Murat Iki stated that they believe that the Pedestal Mounted CIRIT (KMC) Weapon System they have developed will strengthen the anti-tank divisions of the Turkish Armed Forces. The system is capable of shooting against moving targets with its high mobility, 360-degree rotation feature, and stabilized turret system that can be controlled from within the vehicle. The ability to use anti-tank missiles together is one of the important capabilities of Turkish system that creates a multiplier effect. Qualified in 2014, the KMC Weapon System has been successfully integrated and tested on both land and sea platforms.

Developed by Roketsan, YALMAN Turret enters the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces. Turkish Ministry of National Defence announced the development. The KMC Weapon System can launch 3 different types of missiles, both laser and IIR guided. Thanks to its stabilized turret, the KMC Weapon System, which provides the ability to shoot on the move up to 40 kilometers, offers the user a high hit capability up to 8 kilometers. This system can also carry out reconnaissance and surveillance activities at a range of up to 20 kilometers with the high-tech electro-optical system it carries.

Roketsan KMC CIRIT Antitank Missile System Enter Service in Turkish Armed Forces
Roketsan KMC CIRIT Antitank Missile System (Photo by Roketsan)

Cirit is a laser-guided 70 mm missile system fitted with a semi-active laser homing seeker under production by Turkish arms industry manufacturer ROKETSAN. It is one of the projects launched by Turkey to equip the Turkish Army’s T-129 Atak, AH-1P Cobra and AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters with low-cost precision strike capabilities. It has been selected by Eurocopter for execution of a test and integration program to equip the Eurocopter EC635. The weapon’s name comes from a traditional Turkish horseback game, Cirit (pronounced Jirit), where two teams of riders fight a mock battle using wooden javelins which are called cirit.

The seeker and guidance section is attached to a purpose-built warhead with a Class 5 Insensitive Munition (IM). The multipurpose warhead has a combined armour-piercing ammunition with enhanced behind armor anti-personnel and incendiary effects. The engine is of reduced smoke design, with IM properties. It is connected to the rear section by a roll bearing that enables it to rotate in flight. There are four small stabilising surfaces at the very rear of the missile in front of the exhaust nozzle that ensures stable flight. The Cirit has a maximum effective guided range of 8 km with a high probability of hit on a 3×3 m target at this range.

Roketsan KMC CIRIT Antitank Missile System Enter Service in Turkish Armed Forces
Roketsan KMC CIRIT Antitank Missile System (Photo by Roketsan)

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