Türkiye’s defense industry has reached another major milestone in autonomous weapons technology. The Bayraktar AKINCI Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), developed by Baykar, successfully carried out a low-altitude flight and autonomous target recognition test using Roketsan’s CHAKIR cruise missile. The test demonstrated both the UCAV’s advanced integration capabilities and the missile’s artificial intelligence–driven guidance precision.

According to Baykar’s official statement, titled “Bayraktar AKINCI / CHAKIR Cruise Missile Low-Altitude Flight and Autonomous Target Recognition Test – Direct Hit,” the CHAKIR missile flew at low altitude, autonomously identified its target, and destroyed it with pinpoint accuracy. The test validated CHAKIR’s advanced onboard image-processing and guidance systems, as well as AKINCI’s ability to operate with next-generation indigenous munitions.

The CHAKIR cruise missile, designed and produced by Roketsan, features low radar cross-section, long-range engagement capability, and an advanced mission-planning architecture. Thanks to its autonomous target recognition algorithm, CHAKIR can identify and lock onto targets without operator input — even under electronic warfare or communication-denied environments, providing an unmatched operational edge.

Haluk Bayraktar, CEO of Baykar, described the achievement as a significant step toward technological independence:

“We have passed another milestone in our journey toward a fully independent defense industry. The CHAKIR cruise missile, launched from Bayraktar AKINCI, not only hit its target but autonomously identified it at low altitude — a capability that adds intelligence to Türkiye’s deterrence power.”

Baykar’s AKINCI platform has previously integrated and successfully fired various Turkish-made munitions such as MAM-T, MAM-L, TEBER, IHA-230, and IHA-122 supersonic missiles. Meanwhile, Roketsan’s modular CHAKIR system is designed for deployment from land, air, and sea platforms, supporting network-enabled warfare and offering high agility against dynamic targets.

This latest test is regarded as a key milestone in Türkiye’s transition to fully autonomous precision-strike systems, marking a new era where unmanned aircraft can engage targets intelligently and independently. The successful integration of AKINCI and CHAKIR highlights the synergy between Türkiye’s AI-driven avionics and its cutting-edge missile technologies — positioning the country among the leaders in next-generation autonomous warfare.