Havelsan's Barkan UGV demonstrates varied munition firing in a step towards swarming
Havelsan test-fired a loitering munition from its Barkan UGV in mid-October. (Photo: Havelsan)
Havelsan has successfully test-fired different types of munition from its Barkan-2 UGV using a hydro-launch from a single turret. The test has followed on from the successful launch in January 2023 of a Roketsan METE laser-guided missile from a Barkan-1 UGV.
The company announced the success of the mid-October launch on 7 November and highlighted ‘that the launch involved a diverse range of ammunition without the need for explosive materials during launch’.
As part of the trial, the Barkan-2 fired a loitering munition and completed a mission covering a 2–15km radius, but the system has been equipped with two launchers connected to a single turret.
One launcher is a laser-guided system, which was demonstrated in the earlier test, and the other deploys loitering ammunition.
The loitering munition has a range of 15km with an electric propulsion system, a flight altitude of 3000m and a flight time of 40 minutes.
An operational concept promoted by the company revolves around swarming. This was highlighted by Havelsan product development and production director Veysel Eroğlu who noted ‘KSOM (Mixed Swarm Operation Center) …recently carried out [trials] in the field [and] continue with the use of different types of payloads’.
Eroğlu said: ‘With the addition of these systems to the KSOM, the concept of using the ammunition as a swarm will also be realised in the field. At Havelsan, we use software capabilities from our digital technology unit, which is our main duty, on more platforms and payloads.
‘All of these unmanned systems, including swarm concepts – especially [technologies] put forward and pioneered by Havelsan – will be used [to lead the way] to reduce the work of our security forces in the field.’
More from Land Warfare
-
MyDefence delivers counter-drone system to US Army ahead of livefire exercise
The Soldier-Kit system consists of detector, jammer, tablet and wideband antenna and is being evaluated as part of Project Flytrap 3.0 counter uncrewed aerial system (CUAS) exercise.
-
Czech CAESAR howitzer order at risk of cancellation
The Czech Republic ordered 52 CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie (CAESAR) self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) in 2021 and added another 10 a year later. A cancellation of the programme would impact both the army’s capabilities and local industry which is involved in the manufacture.
-
Sweden turns to Nammo and Rheinmetall as world demand grows for 155mm shells
Demand for ammunition continues to increase with manufacturing capability growing to match. Sweden have turned to the two supply lines of Rheinmetall and Nammo as part of a Nordic effort to meet demand. The Polish Government has also announced a US$700 million investment to boost manufacture of munitions.
-
Contract moves new Abrams tank forward in the face of cuts
Several US Army vehicle programmes were axed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s plans to transform the US Army, as outlined in the Letter to the Force: Army Transformation Initiative document. However, the new generation Abrams M1E3 main battle tank (MBT) was singled out for survival. But what will it look like?
-
Malaysia signs for two additional GM400α air surveillance radars
The order is in addition to two systems ordered in 2023. It forms part of a family of systems which is becoming widely used and part of a growing demand for the capability, both in deliveries and requirements.