Akıncı UCAV’s Akıncı-A variant with AI-450T turboprop engines was used in the flight test. Previously, the radar was tested onboard an F-16 fighter jet. The test video also shows the radar screen from the ground control station.
Using GaN architecture, MURAD can perform various air-to-air and air-to-surface functions.
The air-to-air capabilities include midcourse guidance for missiles, high-aspect search, helicopter detection, and weather mode. Air-to-surface capabilities include SAR imaging, ground-moving target indication, fixed target tracking, mapping, and rangefinding.
Thus, the radar’s benefits for Akıncı will not be limited to providing long-planned air-to-air capability with the integration of air-to-air missiles (Gökdoğan, Bozdoğan, Sungur). The air-to-surface functions can allow Akıncı to acquire ground or sea targets beyond the constraints of EO/IR systems that might struggle against fog or clouds and perform ISR at a longer range.
