First export customer for Turkish Akinci UCAV.

The Turkish defense industry, which has increased its export performance in recent years and aims to be among the top 10 in the world within five years, has recently signed the first export contract for the state-of-the-art unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) Bayraktar Akıncı, one of the company's newest products.

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Bayraktar Akıncı (Picture source: Baykar Technologies)

Bayraktar emphasized that thanks to the steps and efforts taken toward developing domestic unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and UCAVs, both met the needs of the country as well as the technology being exported to the world.

He stated that export contracts were signed with 16 countries for Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs, which completed 420,000 flight hours.

"We have also completed the first export contract of Bayraktar Akıncı UCAV. Within the scope of the contract, we will deliver Bayraktar Akıncı UCAVs and ground systems in 2023. Baykar, which carries out all its projects with its own resources from the research and development (R&D) stage, generates more than 85% of its revenues from exports," he announced.

The country buying the Akıncı is for now undisclosed.

About the Akıncı:

The Bayraktar Akinci Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle System has a 40,000 feet service ceiling and 4.5 tons of take-off weight. The aircraft platform will be equipped with two turboprop engines and critical payloads such as EO/IR camera, AESA radar, Beyond Line of Sight (satellite) communication and electronic support systems, enabling a longer endurance and advanced reconnaissance and attack capability. Longer and wider than its predecessor Bayraktar TB2, Akıncı has a wingspan of 20 meters with its unique bended design and will be able to fire multiple smart munitions.

With its proprietary artificial intelligence system, the system will be also much smarter and aware of its operating environment, offering improved flight and diagnostic functions.

In April 2021, Akıncı UCAV successfully completed first firing test.

Bayraktar Akıncı (Picture source: Baykar Technologies)