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Akinci with Ukrainian Engine Breaks new Record, this Time for Flight Duration with Full Combat Load

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Turkish combat drone Bayraktar Akinci seen here armed with 2000 lb NEB, the new Penetrator Bomb developed by the TÜBİTAK Defence Industries Research and Development Institute (SAGE)
Turkish combat drone Bayraktar Akinci seen here armed with 2000 lb NEB, the new Penetrator Bomb developed by the TÜBİTAK Defence Industries Research and Development Institute (SAGE)

Turkey’s new unmanned combat aerial vehicle Bayraktar Akinci has continued breaking new records as Baykar Defence on July 9 successfully tested its flight performance with full combat load

Baykar’s Akıncı took off with a 6.049 kg take-off weight; it stayed airborne for 13 hours 24 minutes with 3000 lb (1.360 kg) payload and reached its operational ceiling of 30.000 feet (9.144 meters) on July 9.

The payload carried included TÜBİTAK Defence Industries Research and Development Institute’s (SAGE) 2000 lb NEB Penetrator Bomb, in addition to 1000 lb extra weight on board besides the NEB.

Read more: Ukrainian Engine Powered Turkish Drone Akinci Sets Records for Flight Time, Altitude

The NEB is the first concrete penetrator system developed in Turkey. Utilizing Multiple War Head Systems (MWS) technology, it is designed for use against hard surface and underground targets.

Combat drone Akinci was flight tested carrying the 870-kg NEB bunker buster bomb on July 9

Compared to its counterparts in the market, the NEB weighs like 1 ton, and it can penetrate to a Minimum of 2.1 m 35 MPa reinforced concrete. NEB can be used with High Precision Guidance Kit (Turkish abb. HGK) and GBU -10E/B Laser Guidance Kit and can potentially be used with all guidance kits which are compatible with MK-84 (2000 lb) GPB.

Featuring a programmable delay fuze and packed with pre-formed fragments utilizing Augmenting Charge technology, the bomb boasts high penetration capability even at low impact velocities and angles and provides a high fragmentation effect against secondary surface targets.

It is the first time the munition was tested suspended beneath the Akinci’s belly

The test flight, performed at the Akinci Flight Training and Test Center in the Çorlu district in northwestern Turkey as part of the UAV’s design verification test program, was witnessed by an official team of Turkey’s Defense Industries Presidency (SSB).

Akıncı has logged 874 sorties in test and training flights to date.

Baykar’s Akıncı took off with 3000 libre (1.360 kg) payload and reached its operational ceiling of 30.000 feet (9.144 meters) on July 9

To reiterate, Turkey’s new unmanned combat aerial vehicle Akinci powered by Ukrainian Ivchenko-Progress AI-450T turboshaft has recently set new records in Turkish aircraft industry as it was able to fly at an altitude of 38,039 feet (11,594 meters) and stay aloft for 25 hours and 46 minutes, having traveled 7,507 kilometers (4,660 miles) in the air during flight tests carried out at the Akinci Flight Training and Test Center.

Combat drone Akinci seen carrying the 870-kg NEB Penetrator Bomb developed by the Defence Industries Research and Development Institute

Akinci underwent its initial firing tests in April using the latest smart munitions produced locally by Roketsan.

The munitions fired were MAM-T, MAM-C and MAM-L smart micro munitions (MAM).

Read more: Ramzay Developing Laser Homing Missiles for Use with its New Armed Rotor Drone