Roketsan Cirit

Cirit
AH-1W test firing Roketsan Cirit
Type	Air-to-surface anti-armor and soft target
Place of origin	Turkey
Service history
Used by	Turkish Army
Production history
Designed	2004 – 2009
Manufacturer	Roketsan
Produced	2011
Specifications
Weight	14 kg
Length	1.9 m
Diameter	2.75" (70 mm)
Warhead	Tri-Mode: Anti Armour, Anti Personnel and Incendiary Anti Personnel: Increased Anti Personnel and Incendiary
Warhead weight	3 kg incentive explosive
Engine	Solid-fuel rocket
Operational range	1.5 - 8 km
Guidance system	Midcourse Guidance: MEMS-IMU, MEMS-INS, Magnetometer Terminal Guidance: Semi-Active Laser Seeker
Steering system	Pop-out fins
Launch platform	Attack Helicopter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

CIRIT is a laser-guided 70 mm rocket system currently under production by Turkish missile manufacturer Roketsan. It is one of the projects launched by Turkey to equip the Turkish Army's T-129 Atak, AH-1P Cobra and AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters with low-cost precision strike capabilities. It has been selected by Eurocopter for execution of a test and integration program to equip the Eurocopter EC635. The weapon's name comes from a traditional Turkish horseback game, Cirit, where two teams of riders fight a mock battle using wooden javelins.

Description

Cirit is a next generation 70 mm (2.75 in) guided rocket system fitted with a semi-active laser homing seeker. The seeker and guidance section is attached to a purpose-built warhead with a Class 5 Insensitive Munition (IM). The multipurpose warhead has a combined armour-piercing ammunition with enhanced behind armor anti-personnel and incendiary effects. The engine is of reduced smoke design, with IM properties. It is connected to the rear section by a roll bearing that enables it to rotate in flight. There are four small stabilising surfaces at the very rear of the missile in front of the exhaust nozzle that ensures stable flight. Roketsan has developed a new launch pod and a new canister in which Cirit is delivered as an all-up round. The Cirit has a maximum effective guided range of 8 km with a high probability of hit on a 3×3 m target at this range.^[1][2]

Development

Initial work on the Cirit design began in 2004 and it was first shown in public during IDEF 2007. Roketsan had opted not to follow the lead of other similar 70 mm (2.75 in) guided rocket programmes and has developed the Cirit as an all-up round and not as an add-on guidance kit for existing unguided rounds. This has seen the company work on several new components for the rocket including its semi-active laser seeker, actuation and control systems, bearings, computer hardware and software. Multipurpose high performance warhead, motor and specific container were designed and developed by TUBITAK-SAGE. The Cirit is designed for use with existing 70 mm rocket launchers such as the LAU-61, LAU-68, LAU-130, LAU-131, M260 and M261. Roketsan is also developing a new series of digital launchers, with seven and 19 tubes, to take advantage of the Cirit's MIL-STD-1760 databus capabilities.

January 12, 2010, Roketsan's Cirit is the first 2.75" laser guided rocket to engage moving targets. Cirit successfully engaged a moving target travelling at 60 km/h while the platform (AH-1W Super Cobra) it was fired from was moving at 220 km/h (120 knots).^[3]

May 12, 2011, Roketsan signed an agreement with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the integration of its Cirit Smart Launcher System on the T-129 attack helicopter.^[4]

Export

• Roketsan is currently in talks with Australian Defence Force officials for the possible sale of the Cirit.^[5]
• Roketsan has signed a memorandum of understanding with Eurocopter to execute a test program for integration of the Cirit to Eurocopter EC635.^[6]

See also

• Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System
• Direct Attack Guided Rocket
• Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket - Laser
• Low-Cost Guided Imaging Rocket

References

1. ^ CIRIT 2.75” Laser Guided Missile, Roketsan
2. ^ Roketsan targets guided anti-tank missile development and production, TRDefence, 13 July 2011
3. ^ (Turkish) Roketsan Cirit'le Rakiplerine Fark Atıyor, MSI magazine, p. 32, 2 February 2010
4. ^ Rroketsan and TAI sign agreement during IDEF’11, Dogan News Agency, 12 May 2011
5. ^ ROKETSAN: Turkish Defence Industry’s growing power, Defence Turkey
6. ^ Roketsan signs memorandum of understanding with Eurocopter at IDEF’11, Dogan News Agency, 12 May 2011