The Turkish-engineered tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) "Bayraktar" shot an MAM-L smart ammunition projectile with a warhead for the first time during a test conducted on Thursday evening.
The ammunition, fired from a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured in collaboration with Kale-Baykar on a shooting range near Konya, was developed by Roketsan and hit the bull's-eye. The Bayraktar was test fired for the first time this past December. The writing on its munitions, "Beni at, onu atma" (Fire me, not it), "Atcem deyon atmeyon" (You say you'll fire, but you won't) drew some appreciative giggles from those in attendance. The first shot occurred with ammunition without the warhead.
After the tests, Undersecretary for Defense Industries Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir shared the images on his Twitter account saying: "We cannot be proud enough, our all-national UAV hit the bull's-eye with tears in our eyes. From where to where." Along with these tests for the armed drone, the "qualification" stage is thereby completed. Furthermore, over the next months, Bayraktar drones are planned for use by the Turkish Armed Forces after the completion of all required tests.
In ongoing tests, the drones are expected to be able to carry ammunition. Each of round of ammunition, the MAM-L and MAM-C, developed by Roketsan for the drone platforms, weighs 22.5 kilograms. The guided ammo with the warhead, weighing 10 kilograms, can hit a target from 8 kilometers away. Following the ISIS missile attacks in Kilis in Turkey's south, Turkey ordered the Predator armed drones from the U.S. Now, with the advancements made in Bayraktar drones, they are expected to be used as an armed platform in the concerned region.
