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)
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
-
Sweden requests approval to pursue Gripen and GlobalEye sales to Peru and Denmark
The Swedish Government has asked parliament to authorise two possible export sales as part of its 2025 Spring amending budget bill.
-
Collins prepares expansion of the US Navy/Marine Tactical Combat Training System Inc II
The company has been negotiating the supply of TCTS II to US allies and partners.
-
Spanish Air Force receives first converted A330 MRTT
The second and third Airbus A330 MRTT for the Spanish Air Force have been undergoing conversion in Getafe, Madrid.
-
Indonesia commits to further collaboration with Turkey, eyes Kaan jet and MILDEN programmes
The two countries have already signed defence industrial partnerships in recent years, most recently between Republikorp and Turkish firm Baykar in February 2025.