Image source: topwar.ru
The Turkish defense company Baykar has announced the successful first test launch of the supersonic IHA-122 rocket, developed by Roketsan, from the Bayraktar TB3 attack UAV. Allegedly, "the drone delivered a precise strike on a remote naval target in coordination with another drone."
Image source: topwar.ru
Bayraktar TB3 with an IHA-122 rocket on board took off from the Dalaman airfield to conduct a flight over the Mediterranean Sea. Bayraktar TB2, which was nearby, performed laser targeting on a floating target measuring 6 by 6 m, located at a distance of more than 50 km. TB3, having received its coordinates in real time, fired a supersonic missile and accurately hit the intended target on the first attempt.
Image source: topwar.ru
Bayraktar TB3 is the first Turkish drone that can take off from ships with a short runway, such as the flagship of the Anadolu UDC fleet. The UAV was developed based on TB2 and is an improved version of it. The wingspan is 14 m, with a maximum take-off weight of about 1,450 kg. Equipped with a single internal combustion engine, it can operate at an altitude of over 9,000 m and stay aloft for over 24 hours.
The 280 kg payload allows the use of a wide range of ammunition, including precision-guided bombs and smart small-sized missiles. TB3 is equipped with a line-of-sight communication system (BLOS) based on satellite communications.
Image source: topwar.ru
MLRS TRG-122
The 122 mm IHA-122 missile is an air-to-ground supersonic munition based on the TRG-122 MLRS. It is powered by a solid-fuel rocket engine, equipped with a laser seeker for guidance in the final phase of flight, which provides the ability to deliver accurate strikes against both fixed and mobile targets. The range of the IHA-122 when launched from a UAV exceeds 50 km.
