Baykar’s AKINCI UCAV has fired the TV-guided MAM-L and IIR-guided MAM-T IIR of ROKETSAN’s MAM series of munitions. The test video shared by Baykar’s social media accounts shows a feed from seekers of both munitions. MAM-L TV and MAM-T IIR will feature Man-in-the-Loop (MITL) guidance, which offers resistance to deceptive countermeasures and enhanced precision, especially against moving targets. MAM-L TV appears to share the same airframe as the previously revealed MAM-L IIR. The reason for MAM-L TV’s development might be the higher costs of an IIR seeker of the same size. Thus, ROKETSAN is likely aiming for a cost-effective MITL option for MAM-L. Cost efficiency is a pivotal feature of MAM-L and is frequently used in counter-insurgency operations. As both munitions have MITL-based guidance and similar airframes, MAM-L TV will likely share the maximum range of 25+ km with MAM-L IIR.
MAM-T IIR will feature a longer range compared to its laser-guided baseline variant. Baseline MAM-T has a range of 30+ km when dropped from UCAVs, while the IIR-guided variant has a range of 50+ km for the same conditions. This is mostly thanks to independence from laser designation, which is constrained by the designation range of the platform’s optics and the seeker itself. ROKETSAN is also developing the dual-mode MAM-T with a new dual-aperture seeker to be used on the UMTAS-GM Block 2 extended-range surface/air-to-surface missile. As reported by TRT News, dual-mode MAM-T is planned to start its flight tests this year. A Mk82 bomb with what looks like an LAÇİN guidance kit was also present in the test. When inspected closely, the wing and tail kits match LAÇİN’s.
