Turkey’s cutting-edge Akıncı unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) successfully passed its first firing test late Thursday using the latest smart munitions domestically developed by leading defense contractor Roketsan. During the test conducted in the Baykar’s training and test center in northwestern TekirdaÄŸ’s Çorlu district, all three of the lifeless test munitions without warheads, which were sent from Akıncı UCAV with laser targeting, hit the targets with pinpoint accuracy.
The first test flights with ammunition were carried out with the Akıncı PT-3 on April 17 while the second test flight with ammunition was made on April 21. Thursday’s test was the first in which the combat drone conducted test shots. The firing test, along with Bayraktar, was attended by Defense Industries Presidency (SSB) Head Ä°smail Demir, Baykar General Manager Haluk Bayraktar, Roketsan Chairperson Faruk YiÄŸit and Roketsan General Manager Murat Ä°kinci.
The Bayraktar Akıncı is a High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) being manufactured by Turkish technology company Baykar. The aircraft has a 5.5 tons Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) while 1350kg of this is composed of payload. The final edition of the aircraft is expected to be equipped with electronic support systems, dual satellite communication systems, air-to-air radar, collision avoidance radar and synthetic aperture radar.
The first test flights with ammunition were carried out with the Akıncı PT-3 on April 17 while the second test flight with ammunition was made on April 21. MAM is a laser-guided system produced by Roketsan for armed drones, light attack aircraft and fighter aircraft. MM-C is the high explosive variant while MAM-L is the thermobaric one. The biggest of the bunch, MAM-T is the long-range variant. MAM-T, the new member of the family, was used for the first time during the firing test.
