Air Warfare

Doodle Labs expands use of its radios on UAV systems

19th April 2024

Mesh Rider is a SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) optimised mesh radio designed for uncrewed systems and supports six frequency bands in a single transceiver and AES-256 encryption. It was developed in cooperation with the US Defense Innovation Unit.

Air Warfare

New Turkish Kemankes loitering munition begins testing

17th April 2024

The Kemankes 2 was said to be designed to conduct deep-strike missions on high-priority targets.

Air Warfare

Netherlands upgrades MQ-9A Reaper fleet

2nd April 2024

The improvements the Dutch MQ-9A Reapers will receive will include maritime radars, extended-range fuel tanks and weapons.

Air Warfare

Taiwan gets four MQ-9B SkyGuardians

15th March 2024

The four new GA-ASI MQ-9B drones will join Taiwan’s UAV fleet.

Military UAS - MALE

Anka-B - Turkey

Programme Background The Anka is a MALE UAV used by the Turkish Armed Forces. The system is able to perform day and night in all ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Aksungur [Turkish Air Force]

Programme Background First Flight & Contract Award The platform's maiden flight was completed on 20 March 2019, and it was first publicly shown at IDEF ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

Cargo UAV (Turkey)

Programme Background Inception & Requirment Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) initiated a programme to procure VTOL-capable cargo drones in June 2018. These were planned for ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Bayraktar TB2 (Turkey)

Programme Background  Selection The Turkish Armed Forces are purchasing large numbers of UAVs from Turkey's domestic defence industry to perform ISTAR missions and provide troops ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Aksungur [Turkish Navy]

Programme Background First Flight & Contract Award The platform's maiden flight was completed on 20 March 2019, and it was first publicly shown at IDEF ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

Songar (Turkey)

Programme Background Requirement The Turkish MoND was considering adopting several micro and mini UAVs to equip the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF). One of the systems ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Anka-S [Malaysia]

Programme Background Inception Malaysia's desire to acquire a MALE UAV dates back to 2009 when it announced it would be the first country in the region ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Akinci [Turkey]

Programme Background Unveiling & Testing Unveiled at TEKOFEST Istanbul Aviation, Space and Technology Festival in September 2019, the Akinci completed its first flight in December 2019. In June 2021, ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Anka-S [Kazakhstan]

Programme Background In 2018, Shephard reported that TAI had made another effort to promote its products to Kazakstan. Three years before a contract was noted, Tamer ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Bayraktar TB2 (Qatar)

Programme Background In 2018 at DIMDEX, it was revealed that Qatar had bought six Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey. The deal also included three ground control stations, ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Forpost-R (Russia)

Programme Background First Contract Recognising the value of tactical UAS during its operations in Syria, the Russian MoD identified a requirement for additional tactical UAVs. ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Anka-S [Indonesia]

Programme Background Requirement Indonesia wanted to acquire or produce a MALE UAV to operate at different air bases around Indonesia to cover the archipelago.  Procurement Over Production Early ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Bayraktar TB2 [Poland]

Programme Background Requirement Under the Gryf programme, the Polish MoD identified the need for an indigenously produced MALE UAV to provide ISTAR and strike capabilities at ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Anka-S (Nigeria)

Programme Background Domestic Production Possibility As reported by TurDef, a defence news outlet focussing on Turkey, in March 2023, İsmail Yusuf Abba, Nigeria's ambassador to Ankara, stated at ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Bayraktar TB2 (Albania)

Programme Background Interior Minister Visit In early June 2021, Albanian's Interior Minister, Bledar Çuçi, and other military personnel visited the Bayraktar National UAV R&D; and Production Center in ...

Uncrewed aerial systems engines

PD170

The PD170 is a turbodiesel engine initially developed to meet the engine requirement of Turkish Aerospace Industries' indigenous Anka UAV. Development began in December 2012 ...

Loitering munitions

Kargi

The Kargi is an in-development loitering munition that Lentatek has developed in collaboration with the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK), Aselsan and Turkish Aerospace ...

UAS: flight control systems, UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

UAV Flight Control Computer

The UAV Flight Control Computer is being developed by the Turkish Defence manufacturer Meteksan Savunma Sanayi for remotely controlling uncrewed operations. It comprises a Central ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Anka-S

Anka-S is a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) designed to meet the requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces. The system has also been exported ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Efe

Efe is a lightweight, fixed-wing UAV designed for target acquisition. The platform was launched in 2006. 

Air: UAS radar

ANKA SATCOM Radome

The ANKA SATCOM Radome is a structural component developed by the Turkish defence manufacturer Meteksan Savunma Sanayi. It is designed for the protection of Ku-band ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Aksungur

The Aksungur is a twin-engined MALE UAS manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the Turkish Armed Forces. TAI completed the platform's maiden flight on 20 March ...

Trainer

Hurkus

Turkey’s Undersecretariat for Defence Industries signed an agreement with Turkish Aerospace Industries in March 2006 for the Hurkus Turkish Basic Training Aircraft development programme. Three ...

Counter-UAS systems

İhtar

The İhtar anti-drone system consists of a radar, EO and jamming systems designed to counter mini-UAS and is available in fixed and deployable configurations. It ...

Loitering munitions

Alpagu

The Alpagu is a fixed-wing loitering munition developed by STM. The loitering munition comes in several variants, has been designed for lightness and portability, and is ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Rotary Wing Cargo UAV

Displayed at Paris Air Show 2023, the Rotary Wing Cargo UAV is a cargo-carrying and ISR drone manufactured by Turkish Aerospace (TAI). Powered by a ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Akinci

The Akinci is a HALE UCAV manufactured by Baykar. Sometimes known as Uçan Balık, the UAV can be fitted with a range of ISR or strike payloads. It adheres to ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Anka-I

Anka-I is a SIGINT/COMINT variant of Turkey’s Anka-S and is operated by Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization. The COMINT capability allows operators to track, geolocate and ...

Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Saka

Designed for ISR missions, the Saka is a micro-UAV manufactured by Turkish manufacturer Aselsan. With an MTOW of 600g, the rotary-wing quadcopter is easily transportable ...

Airborne rockets - guided

Cirit

The Cirit 70mm laser-guided missile was designed to fill the gap between cheap and low-precision unguided rockets and high-cost guided antitank missiles. Cirit can be ...