Turkish VTOL Cargo Drone Ready for First Flight

A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Alesta, developed by Turkey’s Nurol BAE Systems Air Systems Inc. (BNA), will be ready for its flight tests soon.

The Alesta drone has many unique features, including VTOL using tiltrotors, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported quoting a company executive. It is developed by a Turkish-BAE Systems Joint venture, BNS and coordinated by Turkey's Defense Industries Presidency (SSB).

BNA is a joint venture between Turkey's Nurol Holding and the U.K.'s BAE Systems. It enjoys a successful industrial partnership in the Turkish defense sector through Nurol and FNSS Defense Systems, which is 51% owned by Turkey's Nurol Holding.

BNA integrated Flight Systems group completed the prototype production of electric powered Cargo Unmanned Air Vehicle with tilt wing concept that can carry up to 50 kg cargo,  a BNA statement said.

This vehicle with an anticipated first flight in 2020 will be a milestone for Turkey’s civil and defence needs of unmanned cargo/equipment/ammo/food transportation.

"After take off vertically,  when it switches to cruise mode, the wings move to the horizontal position. It means that (Alesta) has the advantage of both a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft," the executive said.

BAE Systems is also already working together with Turkish Aviation Industries (TAI) on Turkey's first national and domestically developed national combat aircraft, the TF-X.