The development and maturation of capabilities for Baykar’s new Akinci combat drone (UCAV) have reached a new milestone. This was demonstrated in a recent test flight conducted by the Turkish company, where the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was equipped with the new Murad 110-A AESA radar—the same radar integrated into the modernized F-16 Block 30 fighters of the Turkish Air Force.
Earlier this month, on March 1, Baykar’s facilities hosted the first test flight of the Akinci UCAV equipped with the new Murad 110-A AESA radar, developed by ASELSAN. The installation of this new sensor aims to expand the capabilities of the Turkish UAV, enabling air-to-air, air-to-ground, surveillance, and armed reconnaissance missions.
The completion of this first flight, another testament to Turkey’s defense industry capabilities, was celebrated by Turkish government officials.
“With the successful completion of the first flight of the Bayraktar Akıncı UCAV with the Aselsan Murad AESA radar, another groundbreaking milestone has been achieved in our defense industry,” stated Haluk Görgün, head of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), on social media platform X. He added, “Now, our UAVs have more precise vision, superior mission capability in all conditions, and game-changing capabilities on the battlefield.”
Regarding the sensor used in the tests, the Murad 110-A AESA radar is the same one equipping the Turkish Air Force’s F-16 Block 30 aircraft undergoing the Özgür modernization program.
The installation of this locally developed radar by ASELSAN had been previously announced during the test flights of the F-16 Block 30 Özgür equipped with the Murad radar. In addition to the Fighting Falcon, the Turkish company announced in April 2024 its plans to equip the Akinci with the new radar, followed by integration into the HÜRJET, the KAAN National Combat Aircraft, the KIZILELMA, and the ANKA-3 UAVs.
ASELSAN presents the Murad as a radar designed “… to meet all operational requirements of both a surveillance radar and a fire-control radar, providing situational awareness, identification, threat prioritization and engagement, as well as missile guidance. Thanks to its agile beam-steering capability, it can simultaneously perform air-to-air and air-to-ground functions. By using multiple solid-state T/R modules within its array, it minimizes the impact of transmission/reception module failures, ensuring high operational availability on the battlefield.”
For Baykar’s Akinci program, this is another step toward integrating new domestically developed weaponry. Among these is the GÖKDOĞAN medium-range air-to-air missile, currently in development to equip both manned and unmanned combat aircraft in service with the Turkish Air Force.
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