Türkiye’s advanced unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) Bayraktar AKINCI has achieved a major milestone by surpassing 150,000 flight hours. Developed indigenously by Baykar under the leadership of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), the AKINCI project represents one of the most significant achievements of the Turkish defense industry in the field of unmanned aerial systems. Reaching this level of operational flight time highlights both the platform’s reliability and the extensive operational experience gained by Türkiye in unmanned aviation technologies.

Bayraktar AKINCI officially entered the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces on August 29, 2021. Since then, the UCAV has been actively used in operational missions and advanced testing activities. With its high payload capacity, long endurance, and sophisticated sensor systems, AKINCI is capable of carrying out strategic reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike missions. The platform also holds the altitude record in Turkish aviation history. On June 21, 2022, during endurance, high-altitude, and high-speed tests conducted in the presence of officials from the SSB and the Turkish Air Force, AKINCI climbed to 45,118 feet (13,716 meters), setting a national record.

In addition to operational missions, AKINCI continues to serve as a critical test platform for the integration of Türkiye’s domestically developed defense technologies. Over the past two weeks, the UCAV has successfully carried out test flights involving several new systems, including the MURAD AESA radar, the high-speed loitering munition EREN, the Mini Smart Munition MAM-L, and the AI-assisted mini cruise missile KEMANKEŞ-1. These integration tests play a crucial role in strengthening Türkiye’s indigenous defense ecosystem and expanding the combat capabilities of unmanned aerial systems.

The Bayraktar AKINCI platform is also capable of employing a wide range of domestically produced precision-guided munitions. During its development and testing phases, AKINCI has successfully conducted firing tests with various Turkish munitions including MAM-L, MAM-C, MAM-T, TOLUN, TEBER-81/82 guidance kits, LAÇİN, LGK-81/82, HGK-82, GÖKÇE and GÖZDE guidance kits, KGK-82-SİHA, the supersonic missiles İHA-230 and İHA-122, and the ÇAKIR cruise missile. These capabilities significantly enhance the UCAV’s effectiveness against a wide variety of targets, strengthening its deterrence and operational flexibility.

Baykar has also achieved significant export success with the Bayraktar AKINCI platform. The company has signed export agreements with 16 different countries, and the UCAV is currently operating in multiple regions around the world. This international demand reflects the growing global reputation of Türkiye’s defense industry and its increasing competitiveness in the unmanned aerial vehicle market.