On Sunday the Turkish military received the delivery of the most advanced and sophisticated drone built by the country to date, expanding a fleet that has already proven its success in the field.
The Bayraktar Akıncı, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UCAV), has been developed by drone tycoon Baykar.
This cutting-edge combat drone entered the inventory of Turkish security forces with a ceremony held in the northwestern province of Tekirdağ, which was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the chief technology officer. Baykar (CTO) Selçuk Bayraktar and many other officials.
Before the ceremony, Erdoğan said that Akıncı places Turkey among the three most advanced countries in this technology.
The aircraft, which has designs, software, avionics and mechanics, belongs to Baykar, is more advanced than the company’s Bayraktar TB2 UCAV, which has been sold to countries such as Ukraine, Qatar, Azerbaijan and Poland. In May, Poland became the first member state of the European Union and NATO to acquire drones from Turkey.
It is also said that Saudi Arabia was interested in buying Turkish drones. Latvia also hinted that it could be the second member state of the European Union and NATO to acquire Turkish UCAVs. Albania is also interested in reaching an agreement to acquire TB2 from Bayraktar.
Erdoğan said many more export agreements have been made, adding that new agreements were under way. “Many more countries are waiting in line for our national UCAVs,” he noted.
Selçuk Bayraktar, Baykar’s chief technology officer (CTO) of Baykar, said they have signed agreements with 10 countries for Bayraktar’s TB2s.
“This has allowed us to get 70% of our export revenue,” Bayraktar stressed.
The Akıncı is longer and wider than the Bayraktar TB2 and will perform strategic tasks. It has a wingspan of 20 meters (65 feet) with its unique twisted wing structure. It promises high flight safety thanks to its fully automatic flight control and redundant triple autopilot system.
It has two 450-horsepower engines, but can be equipped with 750-horsepower engines or locally manufactured 240-horsepower engines.
The Akıncı will carry several weapons, including a number of missiles such as Smart Micro Munitions (MAM-L) developed by prominent Turkish contractor Roketsan.
It will be equipped with locally produced active digitized matrix radar (AESA) and air-to-air missiles Gökdoğan (Merlin) and Bozdoğan (Peregrine).
It will also be able to launch several other types of locally manufactured ammunition, such as the Stand-Off Missile (SOM) built by Roketsan, a long-range air-to-surface cruise missile that can reach targets of up to 150 miles (240 kilometers). away.
Baykar says the Akıncı can attack targets both in the air and on the ground. It can also operate alongside fighter jets and fly higher and stay in the air longer than existing drones in Turkey.
In July, Akıncı set a new national aviation record by flying at an altitude of 11,594 meters (38,039 feet).
Although initially designed to have an impressive 24-hour resistance, the drone remained in the air for 25 hours and 46 minutes during the flight tests at the Akıncı training center and flight test in the district of Çorlu de Tekirdağ. The drone traveled a distance of 7,507 kilometers in the air.
The UCAV made its first flight on December 6, 2019. It passed its first firing test in late April with the latest smart ammunition built by Roketsan.
Defense industry a locomotive
Turkey has made impressive progress in drone production in recent years, especially with the Bayraktar TB2. Officials have said the country has become the world’s fourth largest producer of drones since Ankara took over the helm of domestic production to reduce dependence on Western weapons.
The defense industry will be the locomotive of all the other successes that Turkey will achieve in the next period, Erdoğan said.
“Reducing the external dependence of the defense industry to 20% from 80% in such a short time is one of the greatest achievements in the history of the Republic,” he noted.
After being heavily used by Turkish security forces, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have seen combat and demonstrated.
Bayraktar TB2 gained world fame after its deployment in Syria, Libya and Azerbaijan, paving the way for more export deals.
They had razed ground forces of Bashar Assad’s regime during clashes in Idlib province in February-March 2020. They also gave decisive air support to Turkey’s ally in Libya and successfully led airstrikes that went on. assassinate the leaders of the PKK terrorist group for the past two years.
Erdoğan stressed, along with Akıncı, that the world will enter into very different negotiations.
“Anyone who wants to move even a small stone in our region will first have to look at Turkey, seek their consent and assess their approach to peace and stability,” he noted.
Bayraktar TB3 will make an inaugural flight in 2022
In his speech, Bayraktar also announced that an updated version of Bayraktar TB2 will make its first flight in 2022.
Currently under development at the Baykar facility, the Bayraktar TB3 will be able to take off and land on Turkey’s flagship amphibious attack ship TCG Anadolu.
The helicopter landing dock (LHD) is said to be the first of its kind in the world as a ship that allows UCAV landing on its dock. It will be used in multipurpose operations and will be delivered at the end of the year or in 2022.
Unmanned fighter jet
Baykar is also working on a nationally manufactured drone, which Bayraktar said would make its first flight in 2023.
The jet is projected to perform a multitude of military actions, such as strategic offensive, close air support (CAS), missile offensive, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and destruction of enemy air defenses (DEAD).
The aircraft is expected to have a high operating altitude and a take-off weight of 5,500 kilograms (12,125 pounds). It will carry a payload of 1,500 kg.
The jet is expected to have five hours of endurance and will be able to reach speeds of up to 800 kilometers per hour.