Roketsan test new TRLG-122 missile on Akinici UAV in flight condition.

The Turkish drone company Baykar has partnered with the missile manufacturer Roketsan to equip the Akinci UAV with the TRLG-122 missile, thereby providing the drone with an all-weather, high-precision ground strike capability. During the series of tests, the larger UAV-230 missile was also in flight tested.
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3D view of UAV 230 on Akinci UAV (Picture source Rocketsan)

Manufactured by Baikan UAV company, the akinci UAV is designed as a High altitude Long endurance ( HALE) UAV. With a length of 12.2 meters (40 feet) and a wingspan of 20 meters (65 feet 7 inches), this Uav can carry air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles or rockets, and standard bombs. It is powered by two Ukrainian Ivchenko-Progress Motor Sich AI-450T turboprop engines, each generating 560 kW (750 hp), and is equipped with a 5-bladed composite constant-speed propeller. The Akıncı UAV boasts a maximum takeoff weight of 5,500 kg (12,125 lb) and a substantial payload capacity of 1,300 kg (3,307 lb), making it capable of carrying a wide range of equipment for various missions. Unspecified volumes of Jet-A1 or JP-8 fuel power its long-endurance flights, achieving a maximum speed of 361 km/h (224 mph), a cruise speed of 280 km/h (170 mph), and an impressive range of 7,500 km (4,700 mi), as demonstrated in its latest test. With an endurance of 25 hours and an operational ceiling of 13,716 meters (45,000 feet).

The TRLG-122 Laser-Guided Missile, developed by Roketsan, is for the first time tested on an aerial launch platform. originally designed to be launched from a 122mm rocket launcher. This advanced missile system is engineered to engage a wide array of targets with high precision, thanks to its laser guidance system that ensures accuracy even in challenging operational environments. The TRLG-122 is designed to be launched from a 122mm rocket launcher, which is a common platform, thereby enhancing its versatility and compatibility with existing systems.

Key features of the TRLG-122 include its ability to correct flight path in real-time, enabling it to hit targets with high precision, which is crucial for minimizing collateral damage and increasing mission success rates. The system's use of laser guidance allows for the engagement of both stationary and moving targets. With its weight of 76kg for a payload of 16kg, the missile guarantees a precision of 2m at a distance between 13 and 30km. Roketsan guarantees an explosion diameter of 40m. The laser guidance, compatible with the Stanag 3733 standard, guarantees the interoperability of this missile within NATO.

The UAV-230, capable of operating both day and night, serves as a versatile weapon against a wide array of targets including stationary land and sea targets, air defense radars, communication systems, lightly armored vehicles, command centers, personnel, and targets of opportunity. With an operational range exceeding 150 kilometers, influenced by the missile's release speed and altitude, it is armed with a fragmentation 42 kg Frangible Impact, Armour Piercing, and Thermobaric Options warhead. The missile is prepared for its mission before departure from the UAV, and upon release, it briefly free-falls before autonomously igniting its solid-fuel engine. Precision guidance is achieved through a GNSS-supported inertial system, offering resilience against jamming, and enabling a fire-and-forget functionality. This capability ensures the UAV-230 can be employed in critical missions, allowing operators to strike strategic targets without the need to penetrate deeply into hostile territories.

The combination of HALE UAVs' extended flight duration and vast surveillance reach with the precision and lethality of such missiles enhances operational flexibility, allowing forces to engage high-value targets in complex environments without risking manned aircraft or ground forces. Furthermore, this capability significantly improves the effectiveness of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and direct-action missions, making it a powerful asset for modern defense strategies.

Defense News March 2024