Roketsan Announces Successful Test of LUMTAS-GM Anti-Tank Guided Missile

On November 22, 2023, Roketsan accomplished a remarkable feat with the successful long-range test of its Extended Long Range Anti-Tank Missile System (LUMTAS-GM). This precision-guided anti-tank missile (ATGM) demonstrated its exceptional capabilities by accurately striking a target at an astonishing distance of 16 km, firmly establishing Roketsan as the provider of the world’s longest-range ATGM. The LUMTAS-GM’s 16 km range eclipses the operational capabilities of all previously leading Russian, American, Chinese, and French ATGMs. While the Russian Vikhr-1 and the most advanced version of the Kornet can engage targets up to 10 km away, the American FGM-148 Javelin’s maximum range is a mere 4.75 km. Other notable ATGMs, such as the American BGM-71 TOW 2B RF, Chinese HJ-12, French-German Milan-ER, and Russian 9M113 Konkurs, have ranges ranging from 3 to 4.5 km. Remarkably, the LUMTAS-GM’s impressive 16 km range from a ground launcher could potentially extend beyond 20 km when launched from a helicopter.

The UMTAS (Uzun Menzilli Tanksavar Sistemi) is a modern long range air-to-surface anti-tank guided missile developed by Turkish armor and missile manufacturer Roketsan. The LUMTAS-GM represents the inaugural missile in the UMTAS-GM family, unveiled at the IDEF 2023 exhibition. It heralds a significant leap forward in Roketsan’s precision-guided missile technology. The UMTAS-GM Long-Range Anti-Tank System – Future Combat System is meticulously designed for versatility, enabling seamless integration into various platforms, including airborne, naval, and land systems. The UMTAS-GM’s development encompasses two phases: Block-1 and Block-2. The Block-1 variant features a sophisticated dual-seeker configuration with imaging-infrared (IIR) and semi-active laser (SAL) seekers, complemented by a bidirectional radio frequency (RF) datalink. The forthcoming Block-2 variant will introduce a novel dual-mode seeker housing an IIR and a TV seeker.

This advanced seeker configuration, combined with a tandem armor-piercing warhead, elevates the missile’s ability to identify and engage targets with unparalleled precision. The UMTAS-GM’s adaptability to diverse platforms, along with its exceptional precision guidance and destructive capabilities, positions it as an unparalleled anti-tank weapon system capable of neutralizing both stationary and moving targets in a wide range of operational scenarios. In contrast to its predecessor, the UMTAS, Roketsan’s LUMTAS-GM anti-tank guided missile is launched from a canister. Upon launch, four wings unfold backward, contributing to the missile’s enhanced gliding performance and extended range. In terms of specifications, the LUMTAS-GM weighs 41.3 kg (66.3 kg with the canister) and has a length of 1.72 m.

The Gelecegin Muharebe Sistemi (Future Combat System) version of the missile (UMTAS-GM) was displayed in 2023. It features dual IIR/SAL seekers in a flat split-design nose with a bidirectional RF datalink in a cylindrical body and an aligned, cruciform fold-out wing and aft fin assembly. The successful development and testing of the LUMTAS-GM signify a watershed moment for Roketsan and the Turkish defense industry. It underscores Turkey’s remarkable emergence as a key player in the global defense market. The country’s expanding defense capabilities extend beyond missile systems to encompass a range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), attack helicopters, and ground vehicles like the Otokar Cobra II, which have gained worldwide recognition. The LUMTAS-GM’s groundbreaking capabilities and Turkey’s burgeoning defense prowess are poised to reshape the landscape of anti-tank warfare and further solidify the country’s position as a leading force in the global defense arena.