Bayraktar Akıncı (Turkish pronunciation: [bajraktar akɯnd͡ʒɯ], Raider lit. "Akinji") is a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) being manufactured by the Turkish defence company Baykar. The first three units entered service with the Turkish Armed Forces on 29 August 2021.[2]
| Bayraktar Akıncı | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Unmanned combat aerial vehicle |
| National origin | Turkey |
| Manufacturer | Baykar |
| Designer | Baykar |
| First flight | 6 December 2019 |
| Introduction | 29 August 2021 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | Turkish Armed Forces Pakistan Air Force Libyan Air Force Ethiopian Air Force Azerbaijan Air Force |
| Produced | 2019–current |
| Number built | 60+[1] |
The aircraft has a 5.5+ ton maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), of which over 1,350 kg (2,980 lb) is payload. Akıncı is equipped with two turboprop engines of either 450 hp (460 PS; 340 kW) or 750 hp (760 PS; 560 kW), as well as electronic support and ECM systems, dual satellite communication systems, air-to-air radar, collision avoidance radar, and advanced synthetic-aperture radar.[3]
With the preliminary design phase completed in June 2019, Akıncı started engine ground run testing in August 2019 with a Ukrainian Ivchenko-Progress AI-450C turboprop engine.[4] First engine test was accomplished on September 1, 2019. Following the completion of other technical tests, the aircraft was moved to the Turkish Army's Çorlu Airfield Command. The UCAV made its maiden flight with automatic taxiing, take-off, 16-minute flight and successful landing on December 6, 2019.[5]
Akıncı has a payload capacity of 881 lb (400 kg) internal and 2,094 lb (950 kg) external, a maximum combat load of 2,976 lb (1,350 kg). Powered by two 450 hp (460 PS; 340 kW) or 750 hp (760 PS; 560 kW) turboprop engines, the drone has a 66 ft (20 m) wingspan. It will be the first UAV capable of launching a cruise missile.[5][6][7]
First pictures of the UAV hit media reports in June 2018 and it was unveiled to the public during the Teknofest Aviation, Space and Technology Festival in September 2019.[8][9]
On 22 April 2021, Bayraktar Akıncı UCAV has successfully conducted its first firing tests. During the test, 'Akıncı' was fitted with three different variants of the indigenously developed smart munitions, MAM-L, MAM-C and MAM-T. The test was also the first public appearance of the Roketsan's newest smart munition, MAM-T.[10] From July 6 to 7, the aircraft completed a test flight of 25 hours and 45 minutes, flying 7,507 km (4,053 nmi; 4,665 mi) and reaching an altitude of 38,039 ft (11,594 m).[11] On August 29, 2021, Akıncı was added to the inventory of Turkish armed forces.[2]
Akıncı was first used in Pençe-Kilit Operations which were held by the Turkish military to dissolve PKK positions such as shelters and caves in Northern Iraq.[12]
A total of 9 Akıncıs successfully flew over 1551 hours in the earthquake zone of the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake.
The drones have been instrumental in providing continuous updates and data to the crisis response team for damage detection, search and rescue support, along with coordination activities.[13]
A unspecified number of Akıncıs were involved in an attack on the Wagner Group-operated El-Hadim Airbase, having destroyed at least one air defense system.[14]
In May 2024 one of the drones assisted in finding the crash site of a Bell 212 that had crashed, which killed the Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The mission reportedly lasted 7 hours. Afterwards, the drone drew the crescent and star.[15][16][17]
The Akıncı drone is equipped with an indigenously manufactured active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar called MURAD, a SAR/GMTI radar, a surveillance system, electronic warfare, and signal intelligence suite (SIGINT), and SATCOM allowing Akıncıs to become UCAV as well as ISTAR+C3 assets for the Turkish military.[18][19][20]
The Bayraktar Akıncı has been sold to 4 countries as of October 2022.[54]
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Data from Baykar Technology [1]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Avionics
A total of 12 Akıncıs are on duty.
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