In ADEX 2024, the Azerbaijani MoD exhibited Baykar’s Kemankeş 1 jet-powered loitering munition and TOLUN small-diameter bomb (SDB).
TurDef learned that Azerbaijan introduced both munitions into service during the exhibition.
This marks the first confirmed export of Kemankeş 1, which has been integrated into Bayraktar TB2 armed UAV as a stand-off weapon. Azerbaijan likely ordered the munition for its own Bayraktar TB2s.
Kemankeş 1 is an air-launched loitering munition using a turbojet engine to reach high speeds and a maximum range of 50 or 200 km (MITL or fire-and-forget mode). Kemankeş 1 features a gimbal EO/IR targeting system that doubles as a reconnaissance system. Another advantage of the munition is its weight of 30 kg, allowing for use on armed UAVs. A six-kilogram warhead makes Kemankeş 1 ideal for attacking soft targets like light armoured vehicles and air defence systems.
In ASELSAN’s TOLUN case, Akıncı UCAV, which is also in active service with Azerbaijan, is the most likely to be the platform to use the bomb. TOLUN can be carried by Akıncı under the fuselage hardpoint with a SADAK-4T smart quad rack or individually underwing hardpoints. TOLUN was demonstrated at a range of 65+ km with the latest test from Akıncı.
TOLUN SDB has been developed for multiple carriages alongside its smart racks for attacking targets at medium ranges. The GPS+INS-guided bomb can engage hardened targets with hard-tipped warheads up to a range of 65 km when launched from UCAVs like AKINCI. ASELSAN has also developed the IIR seeker variant of the bomb, TOLUN-IIR, which successfully hit the vehicle target directly in its first test.
