Azerbaijan Reveals New Training Facility, Hangar for Akinci Combat Drone
In April 2023, Baykar and Azerbaijan signed MoU for in-country construction of Baykar drones
Azerbaijan officially opened a training facility and hangar for its recently acquired Akinci combat drone on February 9.
The ceremony, attended by key figures including Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, his son Heydar Aliyev, and Baykar's Chief Technology Officer Selcuk Bayraktar, featured a flight demonstration of the Akinci drone.
The training facility is dedicated to UAV operator training, while the hangar will function as a maintenance center for the advanced unmanned aerial vehicle.
Azerbaijan's acquisition of the Akinci drone was not publicly disclosed until the recent unveiling. In March 2022, Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar mentioned during a news conference that three nations, including Azerbaijan, had expressed interest in purchasing the drone. The initial group of Azeri pilots completed their training for the Akinci in October 2022.
In April 2023, Baykar and Azerbaijan signed a memorandum of understanding for the in-country construction of Baykar drones. Prior to acquiring the Akinci, Azerbaijan utilized TB2 combat drones in the conflict against Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
The Akinci drone, known for its high-altitude and long-endurance capabilities, has a maximum takeoff weight of 6,000 kilograms (12,228 pounds), significantly surpassing the TB2's 700 kilograms (1,543 pounds). Its payload capacity, at 1,500 kilograms, is ten times greater than its predecessor.
The Akinci drone can operate at altitudes between 30,000 and 40,000 feet, exceeding the capabilities of the TB2. Its armament includes various ammunition and missiles such as MAM-L, MAM-C, Cirit, L-UMTAS, Bozok, SOM-A, and the Mark 81/82/83 bomb series.
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