Turkish Akinci Combat Drone’s 2nd Prototype Completes Maiden Flight

The second prototype of Turkey’s Akinci combat drone took to the skies for the first time last week.

The test flight of the drone was carried out at the Bayraktar Akıncı Flight and Training Centre at the Çorlu Airport Base Command in northwestern Tekirdağ province on August 13. As part of the System Verification and Identification Test, the prototype took off at 5:28 p.m. local time and stayed in the air for 1 hour and 2 minutes, manufacturer Baykar said in a statement.

Baykar started to work to develop the Akinci in May 2017. First prototype of the drone made its maiden flight in December 2019- it flew for 16 minutes after take-off. Prior to this, the Akinci had undergone final ground tests which consisted of short sprints down the runway.

The Akinci belongs to a new class of “heavy” drones. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has a wingspan of 20m, and is powered by two Ukrainian AI-450 turboprop engines.

The drone is capable of carrying these payloads: Mini Smart Munition MAM-L, Mini Smart Munition MAM – C, Cirit Missile, L-UMTAS Missile, Mini Smart Munition Bozok, MK-81, MK-82, MK-83 Guided Bombs (JDAM), Wing Assisted Guided Bomb MK-82, Gokdogan and Bozdogan air-to-air missiles, and Stand Off Missile SOM-A.

Baykar claims that the Akinci is equipped with dual artificial intelligence (AI) avionics which supports for signal processing, sensor fusion and situational awareness in real time.

The drone is capable of conducting operations that are being done with fighter jets. It carries electronic support systems, dual satellite communication systems, air-to-air radar, collision avoidance radar and synthetic aperture radar. The Akinci can also be used in air-to-ground and air-to air attack missions.

Bayraktar Akinci will be equipped with multifunction AESA Radar system for air-to-air, syntetic, meteorology estimation.