Turkish Navy receives the first domestically produced Aksungur UAV
ANKA-AKSUNGUR is powered by two PD-170 twin-turbocharged diesel engines enabling long endurance operations up to 40,000ft. (Photo: Turkish Aerospace Industries)
Turkish Navy has received its first Aksungur UAV, which achieved an important milestone in August when it reached 1,000 flight hours.
The Turkish Navy received the first domestically produced MALE UAV, Aksungur, on 20 October.
The UAV is the latest combat drone from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). It can fly for 50h, carry up to 750kg of payload and is capable of long-endurance operations at an altitude of up to 40,000ft.
Aksungur can perform uninterrupted multi-role intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and attack missions with its high payload capacity and provide BLoS operational flexibility with its SATCOM payload.
The platform’s maiden flight was completed in Match 2019 and it was first publicly revealed at IDEF 2019 in Istanbul.
TAI funded the development of UAV alone, with the expectation to receive orders from the Turkish Armed Forces as the military were involved in the Aksungur’s development.
The contract was received following the first flight and the platform entered into mass production in December 2020.
Four Aksungurs will be delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces by the end of 2021, with this delivery marking the first in the series.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile USAF contract expanded to $208 million]()
Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile USAF contract expanded to $208 million
The US$70 million modification to the existing joint strike missile contract has definitised it, covering support, containers and test hardware for the missiles’ use on the USAF’s F-35 aircraft.
-
![Israel to equip F-16I fleet with Elbit self-protection upgrade]()
Israel to equip F-16I fleet with Elbit self-protection upgrade
The $80-million contract for the development and installation of the Advanced Self-Protection Suite on the F-16I further boosts Israeli Air Forces’ (IAF's) fleet survivability.
-
![First EPAWSS-equipped F-15E Strike Eagles arrive in the UK]()
First EPAWSS-equipped F-15E Strike Eagles arrive in the UK
The F-15 Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System programme has achieved its first major milestone after 11 years of development, with two jets arriving at RAF Lakenheath.
-
![Lockheed wins $270 million USAF contract for F-22 infrared sensor upgrade]()
Lockheed wins $270 million USAF contract for F-22 infrared sensor upgrade
Tactical Infrared Search and Track (TacIRST) sensors will be installed to boost the fighter’s survivability and lethality.
