Developed indigenously by Baykar, the Bayraktar AKINCI Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) has once again demonstrated its expanding operational capabilities. In its latest test, AKINCI successfully carried out an air-to-air engagement using the EREN High-Speed Multi-Purpose Loitering Munition developed by ROKETSAN, achieving a direct hit on an aerial target.

The test mission began with AKINCI taking off from the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ. The UCAV proceeded to the designated test zone over the Black Sea. During the exercise conducted off the coast of Sinop, a target UAV launched from the ground was intercepted mid-air. The EREN munition fired from AKINCI successfully neutralized the target UAV in flight, completing the engagement scenario with full accuracy. Following the successful strike, AKINCI returned safely to its base in Çorlu along its pre-planned route.

This milestone underscores AKINCI’s growing role not only in air-to-ground missions but also in air-to-air combat scenarios. Previously, the platform had successfully conducted air-to-air firing tests with the KEMANKEŞ 1 AI-Based Mini Cruise Missile. With the integration of the EREN loitering munition, AKINCI has further strengthened its multi-role combat flexibility, marking a significant evolution in unmanned aerial warfare concepts.

Since entering service with the Turkish Armed Forces on August 29, 2021, AKINCI has demonstrated exceptional performance. On June 21, 2022, it set a national aviation altitude record by climbing to 45,118 feet (13,716 meters). The platform has successfully integrated a wide range of indigenous munitions, including MAM-L, MAM-T, TOLUN, Teber-81/82, LAÇİN, HGK-82, LGK-82, İHA-230 Supersonic Missile, İHA-122, and the ÇAKIR Cruise Missile.

Meanwhile, Baykar continues to lead the global unmanned aerial vehicle export market. In 2025, the company achieved $2.2 billion in exports, with 90 percent of its revenue generated from international sales. Baykar has signed export agreements with 36 countries for the Bayraktar TB2 and with 16 countries for the Bayraktar AKINCI, solidifying Türkiye’s position as a global leader in the UCAV market.