Aksungur UAV stuns with 24 kilometers Hagia Sophia shot

To mark Istanbul’s 571st anniversary, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) shared a remarkable photograph taken by the Aksungur UAV Thursday.

The image, captured while the UAV was cruising over the Marmara Sea, shows the historic Hagia Sophia Mosque from a distance of approximately 24 kilometers (14.9 miles).

It showcases impressive detail and highlights the UAV’s advanced capabilities.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) recently shared impressive footage captured by the Aksungur UAV, gracefully cruising over the Marmara Sea at a distance of 22.6 kilometers from the historic Hagia Sophia Mosque.

Notably, an Aksungur UAV assigned to patrol the Greek border can easily observe the city of Alexandroupoli (Dedeagac), located very close at approximately 21.53 kilometers from the port and 19.57 kilometers from the airport.

This capability ensures enhanced border security.

Türkiye has positioned itself as a pioneer in UAV production and air security, utilizing these advanced systems to bolster national and regional safety. These UAVs’ sophisticated surveillance features significantly improve the security of the countries that own them.

Similarly, during the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, Bayraktar TB2 UAVs, actively employed by the Ukrainian military, were able to observe the city of Kyiv from a distance of 108 kilometers in western Ukraine.

A Bayraktar TB2 deployed along the Greek border can easily monitor cities like Kardzhali from Türkiye, thanks to its 108-kilometer surveillance range.

Furthermore, a Bayraktar TB2 stationed along the Iran border can effortlessly observe cities such as Salmas and Urmia west of Lake Urmia. A TB2 positioned along the Iraqi border can also capture detailed images of strategic cities, including Ranya, Hawler (Erbil), Mosul, Duhok, and Erbil from the north of Lake Dukan, ensuring comprehensive surveillance coverage.

TAI continues demonstrating its cutting-edge UAV technology, reinforcing Türkiye’s position as an unmanned aerial systems and air security leader.

TAI’s Aksungur

The AKSUNGUR UAV System is a Medium-Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System designed for uninterrupted day/night intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and attack missions.

It is equipped with EO/IR, SAR, and SIGINT payloads and various air-to-ground weapons. Two dual turbocharged diesel engines power AKSUNGUR, enabling long-duration operations at altitudes up to 40,000 feet.

In November 2023, AKSUNGUR conducted its first flight with the indigenously developed TEI-PD170 engine, reaching an altitude of 30,000 feet. Continuing tests with the national engine, AKSUNGUR achieved a flight endurance of 41 hours.

The TAI Aksungur, developed by TAI for the Turkish Armed Forces, features a newly designed fuselage, wings, and landing gear. Internally, it shares many components and avionics with the Anka UAV family. It can also operate the existing ground control stations in the Anka series.

Aksungur, TAI’s largest UAV to date, is intended for long-duration surveillance, intelligence, maritime patrol, or as an Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (AUAV).

Named after a bird of prey, the Aksungur is classified as a male UAV. It was designed and produced by TAI for the Turkish Armed Forces’ tactical surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Two TEI PD170 turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engines power the twin-boom configuration of the UAV.

The UAV’s development took 18 months. While the fuselage, wings, and landing gear were redesigned, the existing Anka family shared the control systems. Initial flight tests of the airframe used an existing engine, but a new turbo-diesel engine was developed for the program.

Two prototypes were produced for testing. The first flight, showcasing automatic takeoff and landing capabilities, lasted four hours and twenty minutes on March 20, 2019.

On April 3, 2019, reports surfaced of a second test flight. On April 30, the 2019 International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul hosted the unveiling of the Aksungur. Flight tests continued through July 2019, with plans for a total of 50 to 60 tests by year-end. Temel Kotil, TAI General Manager, announced the start of mass production in December 2020.

On June 3, 2021, TAI announced the deployment of the Aksungur UAV to Adana Sakirpasa Airport for firefighting missions.

The high-payload UAV, TAI Aksungur, showcased at Istanbul IDEF 2019, features remote control via DO-178B-compliant software, a DO-254-compliant ground control station, and hardware with dual redundant encrypted digital data links. It is capable of beyond-line-of-sight operations using satellite communications.

The TAI Aksungur UAV is a highly advanced and capable unmanned aerial vehicle designed to meet the rigorous demands of modern defense and surveillance missions.

With a payload capacity of 1,653 pounds, it can carry a variety of equipment and armaments, making it a versatile asset in Türkiye’s defense arsenal.

The Aksungur’s three-bladed constant-speed pusher propellers, powered by two TEI PD170 four-cylinder liquid-cooled turbocharged boxer piston engines, each delivering between 130 and 160 kW, power the vehicle.

Designed to carry a variety of armaments, the Aksungur enhances its versatility in different mission profiles. It features six hardpoints capable of mounting a range of missiles and bombs. This includes the CIRIT and Kuzgun missile families, potentially the Roketsan DSH (Anti-Submarine Warfare Rocket), and various torpedoes for maritime patrols.

With these advanced features and capabilities, the TAI Aksungur UAV stands out as a versatile and powerful asset in Türkiye’s defense and surveillance arsenal. Its ability to carry out long-endurance missions with a diverse payload makes it a critical component in modern warfare and intelligence operations.

Bayraktar TB2 tactical UAV system

The Bayraktar TB2 tactical UAV system, developed and deployed by Baykar, offers an integrated, network-based system architecture providing all necessary solutions to the user. The system comprises the Bayraktar TB2 UAV platform, Ground Control Station, Ground Data Terminal, Remote Display Terminal, Forward Base, and Generator and Trailer modules. Thanks to Baykar’s technological capabilities, the entire system is produced domestically and nationally.

Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) class UAV designed for reconnaissance and intelligence missions. It features triple-redundant avionics systems and a sensor fusion architecture, enabling fully autonomous taxiing, takeoff, landing, and regular flight operations.

Having flown over 750,000 hours, the TB2 has been actively serving the Turkish Armed Forces, Gendarmerie and Police Department since 2014.

Currently, hundreds of Bayraktar TB2 are operational not only in Türkiye but also in the inventories of Qatar, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and other countries to which it has been delivered.

The Bayraktar TB2 holds the record in Turkish aviation history for endurance (27 hours 3 minutes) and altitude (25,030 feet). It also holds the distinction of being the first UAV of its scale to be exported.