Akinci UCAV may get an air-to-air missile to counter air targets

ANKARA ($1=17.12 Turkish Liras) — Turkish unmanned combat aerial vehicle [UCAV] Akinci may receive an air-to-air missile adaptation that not only serves to protect the drone but also to counter by attacking air targets.

• Turkey shows a prototype of stealth unmanned Bayraktar fighter
• No landing: Turkish Akinci UCAV flies over three countries
• 20 countries want KARGU – the UAV hunting a man without an order

The Institute for Research and Development of the Defense Industry [in Turkish TUBITAK SAGE] is working on this task together with the Turkish manufacturer Bayrak Defense. Tubitak Sage is a state-owned company that develops various missile systems for the Turkish Armed Forces.

According to sources in Turkey, the two companies will try to integrate a cross-visual air-to-air missile [BVRAAM]. Such missiles are often controlled and navigated by active radar homing [ARH]. Turkey is working on its own program to develop such missiles, which in the future will become part of the armament of the Turkish F-16 and the Turkish fifth-generation fighter TAI TF-X. Most likely, these missiles will be part of the armament of the Turkish drone Akinci.

The two missiles believed to be the future of Turkish air resistance are Bozdogan and Gokdogan. Gokdogan beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile which is said to arm Akinci. However, this missile is still under development and there is not much information available about it. However, the Bozdogan rocket has already carried out its first tests after being launched by a Turkish F-16 in 2021. However, Bozdogan is a short-range missile with infrared targeting, ie the target should not be too far when firing.

If Ankara succeeds in adapting a beyond-visual air-to-air missile on its attacking Akinci drone, Turkey will become the first country in the world to turn its unmanned aerial vehicles into active weapons against ground and air targets, remotely. from a few tens of kilometers.

There is no way to compare any drone with the capabilities and combat capability of 4th and 5th-generation fighters. But it is still enough to imagine an increase in efficiency in air attacks, when in the air a drone armed with air-to-air missiles can stay for hours, while in standby mode.

***

Follow us everywhere and at any time. BulgarianMilitary.com has responsive design and you can open the page from any computer, mobile devices or web browsers. For more up-to-date news, follow our Google News, YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook pages. Subscribe to our Newsletter and read our stories in News360App in AppStore or GooglePlay or in FeedlyApp in AppStore or GooglePlay. Our standards: Manifesto & ethical princliples.