Turkish UAV & UCAV Developments

[Combat-Master]

SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION TEST
The production prototype of the indigenous unmanned fighter jet, Bayraktar KIZILELMA PT-3 (tail number TC-ÖZB3), successfully completed another flight test at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ. During the test, the aircraft also conducted system identification activities.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mb2_LGkMRY

 

[snne]

SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION TEST
The production prototype of the indigenous unmanned fighter jet, Bayraktar KIZILELMA PT-3 (tail number TC-ÖZB3), successfully completed another flight test at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ. During the test, the aircraft also conducted system identification activities.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mb2_LGkMRY

It's a bit unusual that they're commencing the LRIP even though they're still testing the production representative prototype and have not yet done any launch nor mission related equipment tests.

 

[Forest Green]

Bayraktar TB3 armed and ANKA III Fired TOLUN from internal bays.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p421yV_nqGM

 

[GTX]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLtzSVKZP9s

 

[Combat-Master]

TUBITAK-SAGE
KAYI-30 is a free-fall laser guided munition in the Air to Ground class. It is a new generation weapon system that can be used in a wide variety of manned/unmanned aerial platforms with its features and weight. The weapon system is in a strong position in terms of operational capabilities and minimizing operational costs.

For changing operational concepts, KAYI30 munition can be used with Anti-personnel, Shape Charged/ Penetrator or Thermobaric warheads.

It has fast and flexible integration capability to various platforms thanks to its smart multiple carriage bomb rack specially designed for KAYI Guided Miniature Munitions Family.

KAYI-30 Technical Specifications
Weight;24 kg
Length;100 cm
Diameter;140 mm
Range;
15 km (INS/GPS) @20kft, 120 KTAS
25 km (INS/GPS, INS/GPS/SAL) @25kft, 180 KTAS

KAYI - Guided Miniature Munition Family - TÜBİTAK SAGE

Home

www.sage.tubitak.gov.tr

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQngG5J-8Dg

 

[Combat-Master]

From the above footage, TB2 added with Man-In-The-Loop missile data-link.


Similar to the one on Akinci UCAV

 

[Combat-Master]

Professor Roberto Cingolani, CEO of the Italian aerospace, defense, and security company Leonardo S.p.A, along with his accompanying delegation, visited the Özdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882341443932447092

View: https://x.com/BaykarTech/status/1882341443932447092/photo/2

--------------------------------------------

I think Leonardo and BaykarTech are going to be working very closely with each other in the years ahead, especially in Italian electronics (Radars, E/O, comms etc) kitting out BaykarTech drones.

 

[Combat-Master]

Bayraktar KALKAN VTOL PT-8 5th test flight, accumulated 200 hours.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882417326244634979

View: https://x.com/BaykarTech/status/1882417326244634979

 

[Combat-Master]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882715330981585150

View: https://x.com/aselsan/status/1882715330981585150


ANTIDOT 2-U/S: Detects, identifies, records enemy radar signals, and precisely determines their direction and location.

ANTIDOT 2-U LB/MB/HB: Combines compact size and lightweight design with high output power and multi-target jamming, effectively suppressing threat radars.

 

[snne]

Professor Roberto Cingolani, CEO of the Italian aerospace, defense, and security company Leonardo S.p.A, along with his accompanying delegation, visited the Özdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882341443932447092

View: https://x.com/BaykarTech/status/1882341443932447092/photo/2

--------------------------------------------



I think Leonardo and BaykarTech are going to be working very closely with each other in the years ahead, especially in Italian electronics (Radars, E/O, comms etc) kitting out BaykarTech drones.

Baykar and Leonardo making smart movies moves to grab a share of the pie in the EU market...

Leonardo, drone maker Baykar seek ‘synergies’ on battlefield sensors

https://www.defensenews.com/global/...twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tw_dfn


Edit: Here's the full piece:

ROME — Italy’s Leonardo and Turkish drone maker Baykar are discussing a team-up which could see Leonardo’s electronics and radar mounted on Baykar’s drones.

Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani visited Baykar’s Turkish facility this week to meet management and check out the firm’s line of drones including the Bayraktar TB2, which has influenced conflicts in Libya, Nagorno-Karabakh and Ukraine.

“There was a great interest in seeking synergies,” a Leonardo source told Defense News.

While Baykar has established a huge presence in the drone market, Leonardo has also sold over 50 of its Falco drone variants and is also a partner on the evolving Eurodrone program with Spain, France and Germany.

The firm also specializes in airborne electronics and sensors like the Gabbiano electronically scanned radar, which will be mounted on the Eurodrone, suggesting Leonardo could put its systems on Baykar drones.

“Cingolani’s logic is that there must be the possibility for synergy in terms of technology, and on the basis of that commercial synergy can be looked at, as was the case with Leonardo’s cooperation with Rheinmetall,” the source said.

In October, Leonardo and Rheinmetall teamed to build new fighting vehicles and tanks for the Italian army which will feature Leonardo electronics and turrets combined with Rheinmetall platforms.

Last month, Baykar purchased Italy’s Piaggio Aerospace, bringing the firm out of six years of receivership.

 

[Forest Green]

Leonardo, drone maker Baykar seek ‘synergies’ on battlefield sensors

Italy’s Leonardo and Turkish drone maker Baykar are discussing a team-up which could see Leonardo’s electronics and radar mounted on Baykar’s drones.

www.defensenews.com

 

[snne]

Looks like a crash, i.e. not shot down by air defence due to no indicators of a missile/bullet impact?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884218134955180439

View: https://x.com/JosephHDempsey/status/1884218134955180439?t=uBugMFm3eh2iaTpfbtJ0Cw&s=19

I think it's fair to say that Libyan AF is not able to properly maintain their aircraft due to how often we see their aircraft crashing without any bullet/missile marks or a fire. I think anything above a Tb-2 equivalent is a bit over league for such countries.

 

[snne]

the first TB-2 to have been delivered to Turkish Land Forces has officially been retired and a TB-2 that is operated by the Gendarmerie has reached 10.000 flight hours.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1885778762672820480

View: https://x.com/KeremHok/status/1885778762672820480

 

[snne]

"A 'Joint Production Agreement for the Export of Bayraktar TB3 and Bayraktar AKINCI' was signed between BAYKAR General Manager Haluk Bayraktar and Republikorp Founder Norman Joesoef."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1889606559564530020

View: https://x.com/ahmetaalemdar/status/1889606559564530020

According to Jawapos news, the joint production and export agreement between Turkey and Indonesia includes 60 sets of Bayraktar TB3 UAVs and 9 sets of Bayraktar AKINCI UCAVs. A set/system UAV structure generally includes 4 aircraft and related ground support and AGI components. With this calculation, we are talking about 240 60 TB3 UAVs and 36 9 AKINCI UCAVs. In this case, a very, very large, billion-dollar agreement has been signed.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1889628154563547525

View: https://x.com/ahmetaalemdar/status/1889628154563547525

Indonesia ordered a large number of Bayraktar TB3 and Bayraktar AKINCI SIHA from Turkey!At the same time, a joint venture agreement was signed between Baykar and Indonesia's defense company Republikorp to strengthen Indonesia's domestic defense production.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1889587553961132444

View: https://x.com/gdhdefence/status/1889587553961132444

 

[Nart]

Sixty sets!? Are those number sets or individual aircraft? If they really purchased sets, each system comes with 4 aircraft. That makes 240 TB-2 and 36 Akıncı. Holy cow!

 

[snne]

Sixty sets!? Are those number sets or individual aircraft? If they really purchased sets, each system comes with 4 aircraft. That makes 240 TB-2 and 36 Akıncı. Holy cow!

Jawapos piece mentions "60 sets of TB3". It's unclear if that means 60 ground control stations and 60+ drones or 60 drones and some number of GCS, but nevertheless it's a big number.

 

[stealthflanker]

That "deal" is kinda skipping so many steps in bureaucratic and financial chain. This is diagram from our Ministry of FInance website, i added the "extra steps" :

DJPPR

www.djppr.kemenkeu.go.id

No real lending/Export Credit Agency are specified. Without those steps above The "contract" is not really legally binding.

 

[snne]

That "deal" is kinda skipping so many steps in bureaucratic and financial chain. This is diagram from our Ministry of FInance website, i added the "extra steps" :

DJPPR

www.djppr.kemenkeu.go.id

View attachment 759300

No real lending/Export Credit Agency are specified. Without those steps above The "contract" is not really legally binding.

Indeed, we don't know anything re specifics for now. Just that there's a joint venture to be created for building a large number of Baykar's drones (for Indonesia(?) and other ASEAN countries(?)). I believe a similar deal was also made between TAI and Malaysia before.

 

[stealthflanker]

Just that there's a joint venture to be created for building a large number of Baykar's drones (for Indonesia(?) and other ASEAN countries(?)

Good luck with this as.. Joint Venture means 50:50 cost share and footing bills are something we're very bad at doing at the moment.

Perbandingan Efisiensi Anggaran TNI dan Polri, Segini Angkanya

Kementerian/lembaga pun akhirnya melakukam efisiensi anggaran, di antaranya yang terdampak TNI dan Polri.

www.merdeka.com

Also local news.. Finally our President decided to cut budget for Police AND Defense. That will affect ANY foreign procurement as we need something called RMP (Rupiah Murni Pendamping) This is the state budget allocated for payment installment for weapon or defense contract so that the Loan agreement can be effective.

Those Turkish news channel can really use a look on our Ministry of Finance website before making hyperbole claim.

 

[Forest Green]

Turkish government racks up naval, drone deals during Asia trip

President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄanâs trip to Asia has yielded a number of defense cooperation agreements meant to bring new business to Turkish defense firms.

www.defensenews.com

Indonesia procures 60 Bayraktar TB3 drones - Breaking Defense

The deal was signed Wednesday by Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar and founder of Indonesian firm Republikorp Norman Joesoef after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Indonesia, Turkish news agency Anadolu reported.

breakingdefense.com

 

[snne]

 

[jsport]

From rebuilding the armed forces to selling drones, how Turkey can enhance Syria’s defense - Breaking Defense

"It is highly probable that the new Syrian administration will look to import Turkish defense equipment and technology, potentially even aspiring to adopt the Turkish model for building an indigenous defense industry," one expert told Breaking Defense.

breakingdefense.com

 

[Combat-Master]

Roketsan General Manager has announced that they will be adapting surface launched ballistic missiles (Likely TRG-300) to air launched versions, UCAVs will be the first types of platforms for integration. They've named air launched ballistic missile 'IRON CLAW'.

Demir Pençe'yi ilk kez açıkladı: ROKETSAN füzeleri, Demir Kubbe gibi hava savunma sistemlerinin kâbusu olacak! (Demir Pençe nedir?) - TRHaber

ROKETSAN Genel Müdürü Murat İkinci, 'Demir Pençe' kavramını ilk kez açıkladı. SİHA'ların düşman hava savunma sistemlerine yönelik önlenemez saldırılarını ifade eden Demir Pençe, aerobalistik füze menzilinin artmasıyla birlikte daha da ölümcül olacak. Murat İkinci, İHA-122 ve İHA-230'a yeni...

www.trhaber.com

Surface launched TRG-300 tech specs
View attachment 752885

Speculation surrounding this image, that AKINCI has tested an air launched variant of TRG-300 Ballistic Missile "IRON CLAW" | Allowing for an affordable missile with a reach out to +150 km

 

[Combat-Master]

After entering service 10 years ago, TB2 gets an update.

- Turbo Piston Engine
- New Aero Design
- 3 Advanced AI Computers
- Speed: 160 kts (~300 km/h)
- Increased MTOW & Payload Capacity
- Max. Altitude: 30.000ft++
- Climb rate: 1,200 feet per minute

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLONZyWxAYA

 

[Combat-Master]

Turkey's UAV diplomacy at work in Africa;

https://twitter.com/x/status/1894296459152933066

View: https://x.com/clashreport/status/1894296459152933066

 

[Combat-Master]

GERGEDAN 3-U V/UHF ELECTRONIC ATTACK SYSTEM FOR UAV

GERGEDAN 3-U System is designed to disrupt adversary communication at V/UHF band with ASELSAN’s extensive EW technology expertise.
The integration of GERGEDAN 3-U System into the UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles / Systems) enables enhanced line of sight (LOS).
Higher efficiency operations at the target region is possible with high gain directional antenna. In addition to the high gain directional
antenna, efficiency can be further enhanced with the plug-in Booster.
Besides the active jamming, GERGEDAN 3-U System monitors the frequency spectrum to detect any instantaneous triggering signals and jams those communications in reactive mode with the optimized algorithm.


---------------------------

https://caliber.az/en/post/media-turkiye-s-electronic-warfare-systems-jammed-assad-s-military-communications

 

[Combat-Master]

Dimensions / Weight

• Length: 4 m
• Wingspan: 1.75 m
• Height: 0.7 m
• Max Takeoff Weight (MTOW): 200 kg
• Payload: 35 kg (up to 50 kg)

Performance

• Ceiling: 35,000 ft
• Max Speed: 0.85 Mach
• Endurance: 1 hr
• Range: 200 km (Line of Sight, LOS) / 700 km (Beyond Line of Sight, BLOS)

Key Features & Roles

• Carried Under and Launched from AKSUNGUR or ANKA III
• Reconfigurable Payload Options According to Mission Requirements
• Warhead Integration Capabilities
• Electronic Warfare Measures
• Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
• Chaff and Flare
• Hot Nose for IR Augmentation
• RCS (Radar Cross Section) Augmentation
• Miss Distance Indicator (MDI)
• Swarm Technologies Assisted with AI and Machine Learning

 

[Nart]

Akıncı UCAV performed a test flight with the MURAD AESA radar.

Edit: I'm absolutely terrible at embedding videos, my bad

https://twitter.com/x/status/1895776544561541157

View: https://x.com/Selcuk/status/1895776544561541157

 

[snne]

Akıncı UCAV performed a test flight with the MURAD AESA radar.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1895776544561541157

View: https://x.com/Selcuk/status/1895776544561541157

Wasn't this supposed to happen like a year ago?

 

[Combat-Master]

Akıncı UCAV performed a test flight with the MURAD AESA radar.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1895776544561541157

View: https://x.com/Selcuk/status/1895776544561541157

Looking forward to the countdown of when Akinci is trucking half a dozen BVR missiles

 

[Nart]

Wasn't this supposed to happen like a year ago?

Indeed, because last time I heard, they started the tests last year sometime around late spring or early summer, but afaik, those were more of a fit-checks with a non-functioning engineering sample. Now that they have started releasing videos, we can say that they have begun flight tests with the real radar. Companies release public information either at the very beginning of a project or after a certain milestone is reached. I believe it is the latter in this case.

 

[snne]

Indeed, because last time I heard, they started the tests last year sometime around late spring or early summer, but afaik, those were more of a fit-checks with a non-functioning engineering sample. Now that they have started releasing videos, we can say that they have begun flight tests with the real radar. Companies release public information either at the very beginning of a project or after a certain milestone is reached. I believe it is the latter in this case.

I mean, AFAICR the fit tests started in Q4 2023, but the first flight was supposed to happen "1-2 months later", in Q1 2024...

The one fitted on the drone was actually supposed to fly before the one on the F-16 flew...

 

[donnage99]

Looking forward to the countdown of when Akinci is trucking half a dozen BVR missiles

Boy it's sexy. Makes for a great drone hunter. Slow and low enough to engage them effectively with good loiter time and operating hours. Probably need to figure out a low cost missile too to close the cost exchange ratio.

 

[Nart]

I mean, AFAICR the fit tests started in Q4 2023, but the first flight was supposed to happen "1-2 months later", in Q1 2024...

The one fitted on the drone was actually supposed to fly before the one on the F-16 flew...

Honestly, I don't know. I think the radar wasn't ready for testing, so they pushed the timeline until they were satisfied with its performance. Developing a GaN AESA radar is no easy tasks, especially considering Aselsan skipped over GaAs AESA technology and directly jumped to GaN without any prior serial production experience in element-level AESA radars so that they can reach the rest of the world. Correct me if I'm wrong, but until the EIRS project, Aselsan had only produced literally one (1) element-level AESA radar, and that was the prototype for the KALKAN-II radar. I didn't count SMART-S and MAR-D because they have sub-array configurations.

 

[snne]

When you think about it, integrating a fighter-grade GaN FCR with the same amount of TRM to a turboprop drone is crazy...

As @donnage99 has said, this will be a great drone and helicopter hunter. But more than that, (with its long endurance) it will be primarily helpful in providing full radar coverage in the mountainous terrain of the Aegean region against Greece.

 

[Combat-Master]

When you think about it, integrating a fighter-grade GaN FCR with the same amount of TRM to a turboprop drone is crazy...

As @donnage99 has said, this will be a great drone and helicopter hunter. But more than that, (with its long endurance) it will be primarily helpful in providing full radar coverage in the mountainous terrain of the Aegean region against Greece.

If radar surveillance was on the agenda, wouldn't it be more useful to have FULMAR?

 

[had]

It is important to highlight that they don’t have another radar test aircraft. (F-16s don’t count, because of their limited flight time)

So this UCAV will perform pretty much that task. New approach but quite a risky move to fine tune your AESA radar on this little thing and later scale it up for KAAN.

 

[Combat-Master]

It is important to highlight that they don’t have another radar test aircraft. (F-16s don’t count, because of their limited flight time)

So this UCAV will perform pretty much that task. New approach but quite a risky move to fine tune your AESA radar on this little thing and later scale it up for KAAN.

What makes it risky ?

 

[snne]

It is important to highlight that they don’t have another radar test aircraft. (F-16s don’t count, because of their limited flight time)

So this UCAV will perform pretty much that task. New approach but quite a risky move to fine tune your AESA radar on this little thing and later scale it up for KAAN.

They do actually but they only bought it last year (hence too late for the fitting of MURAD-100A)

 

[Nart]

It is important to highlight that they don’t have another radar test aircraft. (F-16s don’t count, because of their limited flight time)

So this UCAV will perform pretty much that task. New approach but quite a risky move to fine tune your AESA radar on this little thing and later scale it up for KAAN.

BÜRFİS (KAAN's radar) will be tested on a Global 6000. The plane was purchased in 2022 and is currently in TAI facilities. TAI and Aselsan are legally obliged by the contract on KAAN's test-bed aircraft. Aselsan's General Manager said they have to test it on a proper test-bed aircraft per the contract in an early interview. MURAD's F-16 version, on the other hand, was tested/is being tested on a transport aircraft (C-130 or a CN-235; I don't know which one). So, the "Radars will be tested on Akıncı first" thing is long gone and rejected by the Air Force quite a while ago. SSB officials can say whatever they want, but the reality is different.