UAV / UCAV - Drohnen

[Quintus Fabius]

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/10/th...rifle.html

Über die Akinci, benannt nach den Rennern und Brennern welche Europa verheerten:

Haykırdı ak tolgalı beylerbeyi "İlerle!" - When the white clad bannerlord roared ''Forth cavalcade!'' (Akıncılar, by Yahya Kemal Beyatlı)

The Bayraktar Akıncı, which boasts a number of features not seen on any other type of UCAV produced anywhere before.

One of these features is the ability to launch high-precision cruise missiles at targets located 275+km away. This novel capability was made possible through the integration of the SOM series of cruise missiles developed by the Turkish TÜBİTAK Defense Industries Research and Development Institute. Due to size and weight limitations, only one cruise missile can be carried by the Akıncı under its single fuselage-mounted hardpoint. Still, this is a 100% increase over the operational cruise missile-carrying capabilities of any other drone type in the world.

The capability to carry SOM missiles is far from the Akıncı's only ace up its sleeve. Arguably the most innovative aspect of the Akıncı will be its prospective ability to use air-to-air missiles, consisting of the indigenous Bozdoğan IR-guided AAM, the Gökdoğan BVRAAM and the Sungur short-range AAM (itself a Turkish derivative of the FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS). The Akıncı's AESA radar enables it to autonomously pick out its targets at great range, and engage enemy slow-flying aircraft, helicopters and other drones at ranges as far as 100km away.

Its impressive air-to-air combat capabilities set aside, the Akıncı's expansive arsenal of air-to-ground weaponry will likely be its main (armament related) selling point. In this regard, the ability to carry several variants of the SOM family of cruise missiles designed to be used against enemy fortifications, ships or any other target that requires a precision hit with a 230kg heavy explosive warhead could end up being a real game changer. Their carriage doesn't only do much to expand on the capabilities of the UCAV fleet of its operator, but also frees up jet fighters for air combat tasks. This feat will be especially valuable for Turkey after its exclusion from the Join Strike Fighter programme.