Akinci Offensive Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ( TIHA )

Bayraktar's Akinci Offensive Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ( TIHA ) will strengthen the power of the Turkish Armed Forces. With the Akinci UCAV, Turkey become one of the three countries [the others being the USA and China] capable of producing this drone class. Akinci will also perform some of the tasks performed by warplanes. It will serve with much more advanced useful loads such as electronic support pod, satellite communication systems, air-air radars, obstacle detection radar, and synthetic aperture radar. Akinci, which will reduce the burden of warplanes, will also be able to perform air bombardments.

Akinci TIHA, which is longer and wider than Bayraktar's TB2, will have a wingspan of 20 meters with its unique twisted wing structure and can carry many national smart ammunition. Akinci will also be more intelligent and more aware of environmental conditions thanks to its unique artificial intelligence system, and will offer advanced flight and diagnostic functions to its users. Akinci, whose operational altitude is 40 thousand feet, will stay in the air for 24 hours and can carry a load of 350 kilograms.

Compared to the 12-meter wingspan and 6.5-meter length of the BAYRAKTAR TB2, AKINCI will be a very large aircraft with its 20-meter wingspan and 12.3-meter length. AKINCI will provide the power of two 550 horsepower turboprop engines. AKINCI, which is targeted to reach an altitude of 40,000 feet, can stay in the air for 24 hours.

AKINCI with a total takeoff weight of 4,500 kg, 900 kg external; It will have an internal payload capacity of 450 kg. AKINCI, which will be integrated with MAM-L and MAM-C mini smart ammunition like BAYRAKTAR TB2, will also be equipped with heavier weapon loads. AKINCI, which will have 3 loading points under each wing; It is planned to integrate CIRIT laser guided missile, Mk-81 and Mk-82 general purpose bombs, bombs fitted with domestic guidance kits such as UPS, LGK and TEBER, SOM-A cruise missile, GÖKDOGAN and BOZDOGAN air-to-air missiles.

Baykar started work on the development of AKINCI in May 2017 with its own resources. The company announced the developments related to the project with its statement on June 12, and as of the last situation, the majority of the structural components of the body of AKINCI have been completed. The first test flight, which is planned to be carried out in the first quarter of 2019, is aimed to start mass production towards the end of the same year.

The test process of the Attack Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Akinci, which was completed and removed from the hangar, continued in late 2019. Akinci, which aims to be a leader in this field, will be equipped with domestic and national weapons systems. It will be one of the most important striking forces of the Turkish Armed Forces.

The engines of the offensive IHA Akinci developed by Baykar were started for the first time in September 2019. Baykar, which offers national and original platforms to the use of security forces and also achieves export success, is preparing to further raise its claim in this field. Baykar, who is carrying out an intense work for Akinci, aimed to bring the vehicle to the sky soon.

Baykar Technical Manager Selçuk Bayraktar announced that Akinci's engines were operated for the first time in the early hours of the morning at the end of the 24-hour uninterrupted marathon, which has been in preparation for days. Bayraktar said, “We just finished the test. After that, I hope he will walk, run and fly. Free and Free in Our Skies. ” used expressions. In his share of this development, Ismail Demir, Defense Industry President, said, “Since 2015, when we handed over our first domestic UAV, our UAVs have been a major power factor in our security forces' fight against terrorism. Now we will be stronger with Akinci. Congratulations, keep working nonstop. ” found the assessment.

Akinci can go up to an altitude of 40 thousand feet, can stay in the air for 24 hours, and its useful load carrying capacity reaches up to 350 kilograms. With these features, Akinci will be able to perform some of the tasks performed by warplanes and reduce the burden of warplanes. It will serve with much more advanced useful loads such as electronic support pod, satellite communication systems, air-air radars, obstacle detection radar, and synthetic aperture radar. Akinci, which can carry out aerial bombardment, can be equipped with nationally developed air-air missiles.

Bayraktar Akinci was on display for the first time in September 2019 at TIHA and TEKNOFEST.

On 27 February 2020, a deadly airstrike was reportedly conducted by the Assad regime against Turkish targets, killing 35 soldiers in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib. This attack was a grave challenge to Ankara’s position in Syria. Since then, Turkey changed its stance from merely observing and supporting the anti-Assad opposition to an active and direct participant to military action against the Assad regime and affiliated-militias in what became known as ‘Operation Spring Shield’.

The Turkish military initiated its military campaign almost exclusively via drones, this feat signals a new development in warfare. This was the first time in history that a sustained military campaign is waged wholly through Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Turkey’s UAVs are simultaneously used for surveillance and attack. Combined with advanced electronic and signal warfare, these UAVs inflicted serious damage on the regime forces. Their ability to carry relatively large ordnance and fly for a longer time have reinforced their reliability.

For example, the Bayraktar Akinci, is a high-altitude long-endurance UAV, is capable of carrying an approximate 1.5-ton payload and can fly up to 40,000 feet for 24 hours. The knowledge that Turkey is believed to have more than 100 medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drones of the Bayraktar or Anka type, it explains the uphill battle confronting the Syrian regime since the beginning of ‘Operation Spring Shield’.

Another significant advantage is that Turkey's drones are manufactured locally, which means that their use is cost-efficient and stocks easily replenished. Moreover, Turkey’s UAVs production lines are running at full capacity, and these factories are reacting swiftly to the need of their armed forces, developing new and more efficient models as requested. The timelines, production adaptability and delivery processes would not be possible if these drones were purchased externally.