In the statement made by the Ministry of National Defense on April 18, it was said that the operation was started to eliminate the terrorist elements in the northern region of Iraq. It is known that manned and unmanned aerial vehicles of the Turkish Armed Forces took part in this mission. So, in which area will Bayraktar AKINCI TİHAs, which went on duty for the first time with the Claw-Lock operation, will benefit?
Bayraktar AKINCI carried out the first shooting test with the 270-kilogram TEBER-82!
Bayraktar AKINCI successfully completed his first firing test with the TEBER-82 Guidance Kit made by ROKETSAN, his MK-82 rival.
Bayraktar AKINCI and TB2 are on watch 24/7 in the Claw-Lock operation!
As we can see in the video of the Claw-Lock operation, which was first shared on the social media accounts of the Ministry of National Defense, Bayraktar TB2 SİHAs and AKINCI TİHAs take an active role in the field. Then, in the posts made by Selçuk Bayraktar and the manufacturer Baykar, it was informed that these unmanned aerial vehicles work 24/7.
Bayraktar TB2 SİHAs have participated in many operations in the past years. It also holds the title of being the only unmanned aerial vehicle in the world that plays an active and successful role in 4 different wars. However, this was a first for AKINCI, the new and advanced member of the family.
It is estimated that the AKINCIs used are the versions produced with a 2×450 horsepower engine. Because the vehicle with 2×750 horsepower continues its flight tests. But we can say that the rest of the features are exactly the same.
Many people have in mind whether they will be successful on the field or not. Since AKINCI is a more advanced model than TB2 in every sense, it brings many innovations and improvements. For example, while TB2s cruise at a speed of 70-120 knots, AKINCI can reach speeds of up to 195 knots (360 km/h). This speeds up the response time by up to 2 times.
Since the software and avionics in both aircraft are state-of-the-art, advanced artificial intelligence and autonomous driving and take-off and landing features are very similar. In addition, although AKINCI comes with direct satellite control, some models of TB2s have the same feature.
But when it comes to operational altitude, AKINCI’s stand out. Because while TB2s operate between 18 thousand and 25 thousand feet, AKINCI can go up to 40 thousand feet. In addition, TB2 has a total take-off weight of 700 kilograms with a payload of 150 kg, while AKINCI offers a take-off weight of up to 6 tons with a payload of up to 1.5 tons. In other words, it is strong enough to carry 2 full TB2.
In this way, TB2s can carry 4 MAM class – laser guided smart ammunition – while AKINCI can carry exactly 12 of the same ammunition. Therefore, it can take a role in a possible mission instead of 3 TB2 alone. On the other hand, this useful load capacity brings with it other possibilities.
Because it can carry not only MAM class, but also many missiles such as SOM cruise missile, TEBER-82, MK-81 and MK-82 guidance kits, BOZOK, GÖKDOĞAN, BOZDOĞAN, CİRİT and L-UMTAS. In this way, it can hit the target with high precision by firing ammunition without the need for F-16s.
TB2 UAV features
- Communication range: <300 km
- Travel – maximum speed: 70 knots – 120 knots
- Payload capacity: 150 kg
- Payload – ISR: Switchable EO/IR/LD or multi-purpose AESA Radar
- Payload – ammunition: 4 laser-guided smart ammunition
- Fuel capacity / type: 300 Liters / gasoline
- Takeoff and landing: Track (Automatic)
- Maximum take-off weight: 700 kg
- hover: 27 Hours
- wingspan: 12 meters
- Height: 2.2 meters
- Length: 6.5 meters
- Thrust type: 105 Hp internal combustion injection engine
- Operational – maximum altitude: 18,000 feet – 25,000 feet
Bayraktar AKINCI features
- 40,000 feet (12km+) altitude.
- Flight time exceeding 24 hours.
- 195Knots (361km/h) speed.
- Fully automatic flight control and 3 redundant autopilot system.
- Automatic and precise landing and take-off independent of ground systems.
- Control from anywhere in the world thanks to satellite communication.
- It has no dependency on GPS. Internal Sensor fusion.
- It can use laser-guided smart munitions and our pupil SOM missile.
- AESA radar, Aselsan common aperture targeting system and electronic warfare systems.
- Take-off weight up to 6 tons.
- Payload up to 1.5 tons.
- 2x 750 hp or 2x 450 hp engine options.
- 12.2m long, 20m wingspan, 4.1m high.
Bayraktar AKINCI ammunition
- MAM L/C/T
- JAVELIN
- Penetrating Bomb
- L-UMTAS
- BOZOK
- GÖKDOGAN
- MERLIN
- SOM-A
- Precision Guidance Kit
- Laser Guidance Kit
- Wing Guidance Kit Mark 81/82/83
- TEBER-82
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