Image Source: topwar.ru
The Turkish defense company Baykar announced the successful completion of the new Kemankeş-1 test, showing the relevant footage. This is a small-sized cruise missile equipped with an artificial intelligence-based guidance system, that is, it has the so-called "machine vision", which potentially makes the weapon invulnerable to electronic warfare systems. The product was launched from the Bayraktar TB2 drone.
Image Source: topwar.ru
Kemankeş-1 is designed to deliver precision strikes against strategic targets. Its range is 200 km, and the unit cost is less than $ 50 thousand. The rocket, compatible with the Bayraktar AKINCI, Bayraktar TB2 and TB3 drones, is equipped with a jet engine that allows it to operate at an altitude of 5.5 thousand meters.
Image source: topwar.ru
The electro-optical guidance system combined with inertial navigation ensures high guidance accuracy with a range of less than 5 m, even in adverse weather conditions. With a total weight of 30 kg and a length of 1.8 m, the Kemankeş-1 is equipped with a 6 kg high-explosive or fragmentation warhead, which allows strikes against fortified targets, armored vehicles or enemy positions.
Image source: topwar.ru
The product is capable of hovering over a target for up to an hour, providing real-time data transmission before launching an attack.
According to the developer, currently more than 90% of the rocket's components are of Turkish origin. By 2026, Baykar plans to complete the main tests and enter production of 100 units of Kemankeş-1 per year.
