Baykar’s AKINCI Drone Showcases Turkey’s Rise to Power
The AKINCI program’s goal is to create an advanced UCAV capable of performing missions traditionally reserved for manned fighter jets.
Turkey has made its explosive debut as a new star of the Middle Eastern geopolitical theater after a century of playing a minor supporting role. When many other great powers, even the mighty United States, are struggling to continue dominating as leaders in the new geopolitical paradigm, Turkey, which avoided the last 20 years of major conflicts, is now ready to wade into the center of attention.
Thus far, Ankara’s increasing importance in the military and strategic realms has shocked even the most astute observers. One area in particular that it has come to rapidly dominate is the drone industry. Among Turkey’s most impressive technologies in this arena is the Bayraktar AKINCI unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The AKINCI represents a technological leap forward for Turkey, combining cutting-edge design, advanced artificial intelligence (AI), and a highly versatile payload capacity to redefine modern warfare.
The AKINCI’s Specs
The project began under Baykar Makina, a private Turkish defense company in 2016. The goal was to create an advanced UCAV capable of performing missions traditionally reserved for manned fighter jets. In fact, the firm had already proven it was a drone dynamo with their Bayraktar TB2 UAV, which had fought in Syria, Libya, and Nagorno-Karabakh—then went on to a starring role in the opening weeks of the Ukraine War.
AKINCI is an imposing platform with a 65-foot wingspan. It boasts a maximum takeoff weight of 13,227 pounds, including a payload capacity of 2,976 pounds. AKINCI is powered by two turboprop engines and can achieve a service ceiling of 40,000 feet. This bird can perform operations for up to 24 hours before needing to land. Its design incorporates triple-redundant flight control systems and advanced AI avionics, enabling fully autonomous operations without reliance on external sensors of GPS.
And now the Turks have tested AKINCI with a new multifunction Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Known as the MURAD AESA radar, a recent test of this system on the AKINCI UCAV successfully transferred data to the ground control station. As a multifunctional fire control radar, the AKINCI’s radar system possesses an agile electronic beam steering capacity that can offer simultaneously air-to-air and air-to-ground engagement capabilities thanks to this AESA radar architecture.
What’s more, the AKINCI is readying to test fire the GÖKDOĞAN air-to-air missile—which, if successful, would mean the AKINCI is one step closer to becoming a real challenger to manned warplanes. GÖKDOĞAN is a BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missile with high maneuverability and comes equipped with advanced countermeasures. GÖKDOĞAN is a solid fuel rocket with a range of more than 40 miles.
Beyond these armaments, the AKINCI can carry a multiplicity of weapons, lending to its versatility. The drone can deploy precision-guided bombs, as well as the aforementioned air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles. More importantly, the AKINCI can utilize standoff weapons such as the SOM cruise missile, making it the first drone capable of launching such weapons.
The ACINCI’s Impressive AI System
And AKINCI’s AI capabilities are truly impressive. Its dual AI-powered avionics system processes data from onboard sensors and cameras in real time, enabling autonomous decision-making and target detection beyond human capability. This technology not only enhances situational awareness but also reduces operator workload, making the AKINCI a true force multiplier in complex threat environments.
AKINCI is one of many systems that are setting Turkey apart as a rising power. Ankara hopes to sell these systems on the wider market. Countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Morocco, and Indonesia have all either expressed interest in purchasing or have signed contracts to buy this system. AKINCI is yet another sign of just how potent Turkey has become—and it gives credence to their dreams of restoring the Ottoman Empire.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a Senior Fellow at the Center for the National Interest, and a contributor at Popular Mechanics, consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
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