Bayraktar Akinci conducts test flight with Aselsan MURAD AESA radar
Baykar's Bayraktar Akinci with Aselsan's MURAD AESA radar (Screengrab from video via X / @BaykarTech)
Türkiye has taken a major step in radar technology as the Bayraktar Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) successfully completed a test flight equipped with the domestically developed Aselsan MURAD AESA radar.
‘Now our UAVs have sharper eyes’
In a statement on social media platform X, one of Türkiye’s leading defense companies, Aselsan, stated, “Aselsan MURAD 100-A AESA Nose Radar successfully completed its first flight with Bayraktar Akinci.”
“This game-changing technology, which only a few countries in the world have been able to develop, will contribute greatly to Akinci’s air dominance and situational awareness,” Aselsan said.
Türkiye’s Secretariat of Defense Industries Secretary Assoc. Dr. Haluk Gorgun: “With the successful completion of the first flight of Bayraktar Akinci UCAV with Aselsan MURAD AESA radar, another groundbreaking success has been achieved in our defense industry!”
“Now our UAVs have sharper eyes, superior mission capability in all conditions, and game-changing capabilities in the field,” Gorgun added.
“I wholeheartedly congratulate all our engineers, technicians, and everyone who contributed to this great success, especially Baykar and Aselsan,” he concluded.
Development of MURAD AESA radar
The MURAD AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar was initially developed to modernize the radars on the Turkish Air Force’s F-16 fighter jets.
The project, which took approximately five years, has now reached operational test capability, competing with global alternatives in performance and innovation.
The MURAD radar family is set to be integrated into various air platforms, including:
- Bayraktar Akinci UCAV
- Hurjet Advanced Jet Trainer
- ANKA-3 Unmanned Combat Aircraft
- Kizilelma Unmanned Fighter Jet
- KAAN National Combat Aircraft
This breakthrough places Türkiye among the nations globally in radar technology development.
Key features of MURAD AESA radar
MURAD 100-A, the variant tested on Akinci, was developed entirely with national resources, from Gallium Nitride (GaN) chip production to final assembly. It features:
- Wide-band operation
- Simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground tracking
- High-resolution ground imaging capabilities
- Electronic warfare capabilities
- Multi-target tracking
These capabilities provide Turkish air forces with significant tactical advantages, enhancing situational awareness and fire control precision.
Integration with airborne platforms
Following the successful integration of MURAD AESA with Baykar’s Akinci, the radar will also be installed on F-16 fighter jets under the OZGUR modernization program.
The F-16 OZGUR Project is a national initiative to modernize the Turkish Air Force’s F-16 Block 30 aircraft.
Flight tests for the F-16 integration were reported to begin in 2024, followed by certification procedures, it might have already begun.
In addition to military aircraft, the FULMAR 500-A Long-Range Airborne Maritime Surveillance Radar is being developed for maritime patrol operations.
A protocol was signed with the Secretariat of Defense Industries (SSB) at IDEF 2024 to accelerate its deployment within three years.
