JAKARTA - Turkey has again demonstrated itself as one of the world's leading manufacturers of military drones, with the presence of Akinci, which is capable of making history and crammed with various technologies, when its older brother Bayraktar TB2 is in demand in the world.
In a new milestone, this drone has made an unprecedented flight, departing from northwest Turkey and landing in Azerbaijan, for last month's Teknofest event.
Two Akıncı drones took off from the northwestern orlu district of Tekirdağ, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, and traveled through Turkey and Georgia before they landed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, said developer, Baykar. May.
Covering a distance of about 2,000 kilometers, the UCAVs completed a five-hour flight as they traveled through three countries, a first in Turkish aviation history.
Along with defense products and other cutting-edge technologies developed by Turkish companies, Akıncı will meet aerospace and technology enthusiasts in Baku during Teknofest which will be held from May 26 to May 29.
Marking the most advanced drone built by the country, the Akıncı was first delivered to Turkish security forces in late August last year.
UCAV joins Bayraktar TB2, which has been widely used and sold to various countries, including Ukraine, Qatar, Azerbaijan and Poland.
Six Akıncı drones have entered the inventory so far and are in active use by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). They had joined their first major operation last month when Turkey launched a military offensive against PKK terrorist targets in northern Iraq.
Akıncı is longer and wider than Bayraktar TB2 and can perform strategic tasks. The aircraft has a wingspan of 20 meters, features a unique bent wing structure, fully automatic flight control and a triple autopilot system.
The drone can carry a wide range of weaponry, including missiles such as Smart Micro Munitions (MAM-L) developed by leading Turkish contractor Roketsan, as well as Gökdoğan (Merlin) and Bozdoğan (Peregrine) air-to-air missiles. The drone can also be equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
Not only that, the Akinci is also capable of launching several other types of ammunition, such as Stand-Off Missile (SOM), a long-range air-to-surface cruise missile that can hit targets up to 150 miles (240 kilometers) long. ) far.
Baykar said Akıncı can strike 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 Turkish drones.
Late last month, Akinci made its first direct fire at a marine target in a successful test hit target, using the TEBER MK-82 guidance kit. It is said to have hit the target after the Bayraktar TB2 performed a laser aiming at the target. Akıncı reportedly dropped an MK-82 bomb from an altitude of 20,000 feet on a floating target.
Baykar has also finalized export deals for Akınc with two countries. According to the company, deliveries are targeted to be carried out periodically starting in 2023.
It is known, the older brother of the Bayraktar TB2 fighter drone gained worldwide fame after being deployed in conflicts in Syria, Libya and Karabakh, formerly known as Nagorno-Karabakh. The drones have been sold to nearly 20 countries so far, with many others expressing interest in buying the drones.
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