Malaysia to Purchase KARAOK Anti-Tank Guided Missiles From Roketsan
The tender for the Medium Range Guided Anti-Tank System (ATGW-MR), initiated by the Malaysian Ministry of Defense to replace the Soviet-era Metis-M (NATO reporting name Saxhorn-2) guided anti-tank missiles in the service of the Malaysian Armed Forces, has been concluded. According to Malaysian Defense News, the Turkish ROKETSAN-produced KARAOK (Black Arrow) Guided Anti-Tank Missile won the tender, which included products from South Korean and Chinese companies.
According to Malaysian media, the purchase will include 18 KARAOK anti-tank systems as well as six missiles for each launcher. An indoor simulator, three outdoor simulators, three transparent missiles that expose the missile’s components, and test equipment will also be included in the package. Furthermore, following the acquisition of the KARAOK Anti-Tank System, Malaysia’s New ATGMs will be incorporated into Cendana light armored vehicles.
KARAOK is a short-range anti-tank weapon capable of being used by a single soldier, developed by Roketsan, Turkey’s missile production center, based on the expertise gained from the development of UMTAS and OMTAS missiles. Technically, KARAOK is the Turkish equivalent of the FGM-148 Javelin guided anti-tank missile, jointly produced by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon and one of the standout infantry weapon systems of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Turkey had previously requested these anti-tank missiles from the United States, but due to a lack of necessary approval, the country resorted to developing domestic systems such as KARAOK. The system, which began development in 2016, was showcased for the first time at the 14th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 19). In 2020, the system successfully completed its first guided test fire and later entered the service of the Turkish Armed Forces in 2022.
The main feature of the Karaok anti-tank missile, which has a range of 2.5 kilometers, is its fire-and-forget capability, which allows the gunner to fire and swiftly take cover, move to another combat position, or reload. Another important characteristic of the system is the ‘top attack’ striking mode. In this way, the Karaok missile, which may be directed to the top of the vehicle, one of the weakest and most vulnerable areas of tanks and armored vehicles, can eliminate targets with its tandem warhead.