The Bayraktar AKINCI Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) has achieved a major milestone in Turkish aviation history, reaching 100,000 flight hours. AKINCI has been exported to 11 different countries and continues to carry out active missions in various regions worldwide.
Pioneering Achievements in Global Aviation
Bayraktar AKINCI has achieved several firsts in global aviation history. On 24 April 2023, during a test flight in Çorlu, it flew in close formation with Bayraktar KIZILELMA, marking a historic moment in aviation literature. In 2023, AKINCI and KIZILELMA conducted multiple public flights over Istanbul as part of TEKNOFEST.
A Legacy of Success
At TEKNOFEST Azerbaijan in 2022, Bayraktar AKINCI flew alongside a MiG-29 fighter jet, and later that year performed joint flights with SOLOTÜRK, Hürkuş, and the Turkish Stars aerobatic team. In 2024, AKINCI successfully completed a formation flight with Bayraktar TB3 from Çorlu to Keşan. During the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), two AKINCI aircraft took off from the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Centre in Tekirdağ and flew 1,022 kilometres.
National Altitude Record Holder
Added to the Turkish Armed Forces inventory on 29 August 2021, Bayraktar AKINCI set a new national altitude record, reaching 45,118 feet (13,716 metres) on 21 June 2022.
Vital Role in Search and Rescue Operations
On 19 May 2024, Bayraktar AKINCI played a crucial role in search and rescue efforts following the helicopter crash of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Despite severe weather conditions, AKINCI rapidly reached the crash site, descended to 300 feet, identified the wreckage, and relayed the coordinates to Iranian authorities.
Active in Disaster Zones and Operational Missions
Following the earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş on 6 February 2023, Bayraktar AKINCI supported search and rescue, coordination, and damage assessment efforts. Nine AKINCI units flew continuous missions in the earthquake zone.
High Success with Indigenous Munitions
Bayraktar AKINCI has successfully completed integration tests with domestic and national munitions. It has conducted live-fire tests with MAM-L, MAM-T, TOLUN, Teber-81, and Çakır cruise missiles, further enhancing its combat capabilities.
Bayraktar AKINCI C Continues Test Flights
On 24 February 2025, Bayraktar AKINCI C successfully completed aerodynamic parameter tests, staying airborne for over an hour. With 2×850 HP engines, it aims to become the most powerful unmanned aerial vehicle in its class.
Export Success for Turkish Defence Industry
On 18 July 2023, Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV was exported to Saudi Arabia under an agreement signed in the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This deal marked Turkey’s largest aviation export to date.
Baykar’s Export Success
In 2023, Baykar achieved $1.8 billion in exports, ranking among Turkey’s top exporters. In 2024, exports accounted for 90% of the company’s revenue, with another $1.8 billion export volume.
