TSAMTO, August 31. On August 29, the official ceremony of handing over to the Turkish Armed Forces of the Akinci high-altitude reconnaissance and strike UAV of long flight duration (HALE class) developed by Baykar took place at the Chorlu Airbase.
The event was held in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
As stated at the ceremony, R.Erdogan, the delivery of Akinci allows Turkey to enter the top three most advanced countries with this technology. According to the president, the Turkish defense industry will become the engine of all other successes that Turkey will achieve in the coming period.
As reported by TSAMTO, the Executive Committee of the Turkish Defense Industry selected Baykar as the contractor for the development of the Akinci UAV in January 2018. Flight tests of the first prototype began on December 6, 2019. At the moment, three prototypes have been assembled, which are being tested.
According to Baykar, the maximum take-off weight of the Akinchi UAV equipped with two turboprop engines is 5500 kg, the wingspan is 20 m, the height is 4.1 m, the length is 12.3 m. It is expected that it will be able to perform tasks at altitudes up to 40,000 feet (12,192 m) within 24 hours. The UAV is equipped with an automatic flight control system and an autopilot with triple redundancy, six computers with artificial intelligence elements, which will allow you to collect information and fly in the absence of a GPS signal.
According to the Turkish Defense Industry Directorate (SSB), the Akinci will be able to carry an internal and external payload weighing up to 450 kg and 900 kg, respectively. The UAV will receive specially developed equipment, including EO / IR cameras, an active antenna array radar with electronic scanning from Aselsan, an electronic warfare system and satellite communication systems. It will also be able to carry a wide range of weapons on an external suspension, including the MAM-T, MAM-L, MAM-C, Bozok high-precision ammunition developed by Rocketan, CIRIT and L-UMTAS guided missiles, MK-81, MK-82, MK-83 aerial bombs. It is planned to integrate other weapons on board, including the SOM-A cruise missile with a range of 250 km and the Gokdogan and Bozdogan air-to-air guided missiles.
