Kosovo Receives Roketsan’s OMTAS Anti-Tank Missile System, Expanding Ground Combat Capabilities

Kosovo has officially inducted the Turkish-made OMTAS medium-range anti-tank missile system into its military inventory, marking a significant step in strengthening its ground combat capabilities.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti confirmed the delivery on Tuesday, stating that the system is now part of the army’s arsenal. “Stronger, safer: Turkish-made OMTAS is part of our army's arsenal,” Kurti wrote on social media.

The acquisition follows a procurement contract signed in December 2023 with Turkish defense manufacturer Roketsan, according to Kosovo’s Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci. He said the system was selected to address a wide spectrum of battlefield threats, particularly modern armored vehicles and fortified positions.

Operational Use Already Demonstrated

OMTAS has already been observed in operational training. The Kosovo Security Force previously released footage from the “Bravo Wolf” exercise held on February 28, 2025, showing live employment of the missile system. The weapon had also appeared earlier in Kosovo’s inventory during the NATO Defender Europe 2023 exercise, indicating phased integration ahead of the formal announcement.

Roketsan first disclosed an export of OMTAS to a European country in 2022, with Kosovo now confirmed as the recipient.

Expanding Anti-Tank Coverage

According to Maqedonci, Kosovo’s strategy focuses on diversifying both the range and quantity of anti-tank systems to ensure adaptability across different terrain types and combat scenarios. “Increasing the variety and quantity of anti-tank missile systems aims to cover different range distances, terrain conditions, and threat profiles, while improving operational flexibility,” he said.

OMTAS Technical Overview

OMTAS is a medium-range, ground-launched anti-tank missile designed for infantry units and optimized for modern high-intensity combat environments.

Key specifications include:

• Diameter: 160 mm
• Length: 1.8 m
• Weight: 35 kg (missile + launch tube), 36 kg (tripod launch system)
• Effective range: 200–4,000 meters
• Seeker: Imaging Infrared (IIR), uncooled
• Warhead: Tandem HEAT, capable of defeating reactive armor
• Attack modes: Direct attack and top attack
• Engagement modes: Fire-and-forget / fire-and-update

The system is equipped with a TV and thermal surveillance unit, enabling day-and-night operations in adverse weather conditions. An RF data link between launcher and missile allows operators to update targeting data after launch, fire from covered positions, and assess strike effectiveness in real time.

With its ability to engage both stationary and moving targets, OMTAS significantly enhances Kosovo’s anti-armor capabilities and aligns the force more closely with modern NATO-standard infantry combat doctrines.