The Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV successfully hit its target with Türkiye’s indigenous TOLUN IIR guided munition, which features an infrared seeker head, during a test firing.

TEKİRDAĞ / KONYA  
September 17, 2024  

As part of the Bayraktar AKINCI Project, led by the Defense Industry Agency, the integration of new indigenous munitions and systems into the Bayraktar AKINCI Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) developed by Baykar continues successfully.

DIRECT HIT  
The Bayraktar AKINCI successfully completed the test firing of the TOLUN Full Shot Guided Munition, developed by Aselsan. On Friday, September 17, 2024, Bayraktar AKINCI took off from the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ, carrying three TOLUN IIR munitions (infrared seeker-guided). The UCAV flew to the Konya Karapınar Firing Test and Evaluation Center, where it launched the indigenous TOLUN munition from an altitude of 22,000 feet. Using its imaging infrared guidance system (IIR), the TOLUN successfully hit an armored personnel carrier (APC) located 20 kilometres away, delivering a precise strike.

NEW SMART INDIGENOUS MUNITION  
The TOLUN IIR, integrated into the Bayraktar AKINCI, has a range of 80 kilometres. It is equipped with a dual-link data transmission system, which allows for live image transfer to the control center, enabling the munition to be guided toward its target with human input until the last moment, ensuring accurate engagement.

HITS TARGETS WITH INDIGENOUS MUNITIONS  
The integration of indigenous munitions into the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV continues successfully. Powered by a wide range of national munitions, which can be deployed against various types of targets, the Bayraktar AKINCI continues to enhance its effectiveness and deterrence. To date, various munitions such as MAM-L, MAM-L TV, MAM-T, MAM-T IIR/TV, MAM-C, TOLUN, TOLUN IIR, Teber-81, Teber-82, LGK-81, LGK-82, HGK-82, Gökçe Guidance Kit, Gözde Guidance Kit, KGK-82-SİHA, IHA-230 Supersonic Missile, TV Seeker and Laser Seeker-Headed IHA-122 Supersonic Missile, and Çakır Cruise Missile have been successfully tested. In these tests, the Bayraktar AKINCI hit its targets with pinpoint accuracy using national munitions.

PINPOINT STRIKES WITH ASELFLIR-500  
On February 22, during a previous test, the Bayraktar AKINCI used Aselsan’s indigenous ASELFLIR-500 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System, which is recognized as the best in its class worldwide. The system was employed to successfully destroy a maritime target, an Albatros UAS, during the test.

AKINCI C IN THE SKY  
During a test conducted on February 24, Bayraktar AKINCI C remained in the air for more than one hour. Aerodynamic parameter steps were successfully tested during the flight. With its 2 X 850 HP engines, totaling 1700 HP, the Bayraktar AKINCI C will be the most effective and capable combat platform in its class. Having completed its maiden flight on December 6, 2019, the Bayraktar AKINCI entered service on August 29, 2021. More recently, the Bayraktar AKINCI A (2X450 HP) and the Bayraktar AKINCI B (2X750 HP) have also been introduced into the inventories of Turkish security forces, as well as those of allied and partner nations, with Azerbaijan being a notable example.

70,000 HOURS IN THE SKY  
The Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV, developed by Baykar as Türkiye’s first indigenous UCAV, has successfully completed 70,000 flight hours, marking a significant milestone in Turkish aviation history. During the test on February 24, the Bayraktar AKINCI C, with its 2 X 850 HP engines, remained airborne for over an hour while successfully testing its aerodynamic parameters.

EXPORT CHAMPION  
Since its inception, Baykar has conducted all of its projects using self-financing. From the beginning of its UAV R&D process in 2003, Baykar has generated 83% of its revenue from exports. In 2023, Baykar achieved $1.8 billion in exports, ranking among the top 10 exporters in Türkiye across all sectors. Baykar received the Export Champions Award and was recognized as the defense and aerospace export leader in 2021, 2022, and 2023, according to the Defense Industry Agency and the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM). In recent years, Baykar has earned over 90% of its revenue from exports, contributing to one-third of Türkiye’s total defense and aerospace exports in 2023. As the world's largest UCAV exporter, 97.5% of Baykar's signed contracts are export-based. Baykar has signed export agreements for the Bayraktar TB2 with 33 countries and for the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV with 10 countries, totaling agreements with 34 countries.