Baykar Tech To Supply An Unspecified Number of Akıncı Drones To Saudi Arabia
During Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the two countries signed a number of agreements in areas such as defense, energy, and communication. The most notable agreement was the Bayraktar AKINCI drone export and cooperation agreement signed between Baykar Defense and the Saudi Ministry of Defense. The agreement was signed by Baykar General Manager Haluk Bayraktar and Saudi Arabian Deputy Defense Minister Khalid Bin Hussein Al Bayari.
“We are taking an important step that strengthens the deep ties between the two countries,” said Baykar General Manager Haluk Bayraktar of the agreement, which he described as the largest defense and aerospace export contract in the history of the Republic of Turkey. “The agreement we signed will increase our capabilities in the field of unmanned aerial vehicle technology, while contributing to the development of Saudi Arabia’s high technology development capability. This cooperation aims not only to strengthen the ties between our countries, but also to contribute to regional and global peace.”
In a tweet , Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman stated that Saudi Arabia will purchase these unmanned aerial vehicles with the goal of “enhancing the readiness of the Kingdom’s armed forces and bolstering its defense and manufacturing capabilities.”
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense and Baykar did not disclose the cost of the agreement, the number of Akıncı drones that will be procured, the configurations of these unmanned aerial vehicles, or the procurement schedule. For the time being, it is known that Bayraktar AKINCI drones will be part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Air and Naval Forces Command’s inventory. Baykar will also provide training, technical support, and logistics services under the terms of the agreement. Furthermore, cooperation on technology transfer and joint production will be established in order to advance the two countries’ high technology development capability in the future.
Akıncı is a high altitude long endurance (HALE) class armed unmanned aerial vehicle that has been in service with the Turkish Armed Forces since 2021. This vehicle, which comes in three variants called Akıncı A, Akıncı B, and Akıncı C, each with a different engine, is much more advanced in terms of maximum altitude, technology, and payload than the company’s other product, the Bayraktar TB2.
Akıncı, which can fly for 24 hours and reach an altitude of 40 thousand feet, has a take-off weight of 6 tons and a cruise speed of 195 knots. The drone, which has a 1.5 ton payload carrying capacity, advanced artificial intelligence, and three redundant autopilot satellite communication systems, can also be equipped with munitions, missiles and bombs such as the MAM-L, MAM-C, Cirit, L-UMTAS, Bozok, MK-81, MK-82, MK-83, Wing Assisted Guidance Kit (KGK)-MK-82, Gökdoğan, Bozdoğan and SOM-A.