Kemankeş 1 loitering munitions fired from Akıncı UCAV successfully hit two ground targets in the test, following the test against towed air targets.

Two jet-powered loitering munitions specifically developed by Baykar for UCAV platforms hit the ground targets with minimal deviation. One of the munitions is seen to be without a warhead, while the other appears to have been fitted with a warhead, based on the footage taken with the Bayraktar TB2.

The presence of two antennas on the nose, also seen in the previous test, suggests Akıncı has been fitted with data link antennas for the control of Kemankeş 1 munitions.

Kemankeş 1

Kemankeş 1 is Baykar’s first product in the field of munitions as a jet-powered loitering munition. To allow the fitting on a wide variety of UAVs, including Bayraktar TB2, the design adopts a small frame packing a turbojet engine from Idealab, a gimbal EO system, and a 5 kg warhead, totalling a weight of 30 kg.

Kemankeş 1’s range of 200+ km with GNSS navigation and data-link provides a stand-off capability that has not been available to Bayraktar TB2 or UAVs of a similar class that normally carry glide munitions or short-range missiles. This allows even armed UAVs/UCAVs to stay out of the range of even medium-range air defence systems and even assist in SEAD/DEAD missions with the right planning.

In addition to stand-off capabilities, Kemankeş 1’s recent demonstration against an airborne target towed by a multi-copter UAV is essentially a peek at its potential to be utilised against slow-flying aircraft like helicopters and other UAVs.

Author: Kaan Azman

Editor: Özgür Ekşi