EDGE, one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defence groups, and Baykar, an international leader in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and artificial intelligence technology, are currently collaborating to integrate EDGE smart weapons onto Bayraktar UAVs. The integration programme is part of a Strategic Alliance Agreement between the two groups to collaborate on advanced technology solutions in the defence sector. Under the programme, EDGE will integrate their DESERT STING 16 precision-guided munition onto the Baykar TB2 UAV, with other payload integrations on other BAYKAR platforms to follow. EDGE and Baykar will continue to strengthen their partnership under the Strategic Alliance Agreement, seeking opportunities for further collaboration and mutually beneficial programmes.
Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman and CTO of Baykar, said: “Integration of the DESERT STING 16 and other EDGE weapons and systems will be valuable options in our UAV payload offerings. Our strategic alliance agreement with EDGE, an international leader in advanced technology, will provide further options to our client base.”
H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Chairman of the Board of EDGE, said: “At EDGE, we are proud to be partnering with Baykar, a leading company in advanced unmanned aerial systems. The opportunity to add to both companies’ capabilities is an important milestone in our partnership.”
The Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations. It is manufactured by the Turkish company Baykar Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret A.?., primarily for the Turkish Armed Forces. The aircraft are monitored and controlled by an aircrew in a ground control station, including weapons employment. The development of the UAV has been largely credited to Selçuk Bayraktar, a former MIT graduate student. By November 2021, the TB2 drone had completed 400,000 flight hours globally. The largest operator of TB2 drones is the Turkish military, but an export model has been sold to the militaries of a number of other countries.
The Desert Sting 16 (DS-16) emerges as a sophisticated smart micro munition crafted by Halcon Systems, a subsidiary of the renowned EDGE Group. Designed as a Guided-Glide Weapon, this precision-guided munition solution boasts a gross weight of 23kg and is equipped with a 12kg warhead. The DS-16 showcases exceptional accuracy, with a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of only 3m for GAINS + SAL seeker and 10m for GAINS alone. Operating at a range exceeding 15km at an altitude of 30,000 feet, this cutting-edge munition relies on inertial guidance, complemented by global navigation satellite system (GNSS) information (GAINS). To further enhance accuracy, a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker configuration has been integrated, ensuring optimal performance against designated targets.
