Turkish Baykar Launches "Kalkan," its Most Advanced Drone
Kalkan will be used for reconnaissance and intelligence missions
Turkey’s Baykar has unveiled the Kalkan, its latest vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone currently undergoing flight tests.
"Flight tests of Bayraktar KALKAN VTOL, which will assume key roles in reconnaissance and intelligence missions, continue successfully," the company said in a social media post on Sunday.
According to Turkish media reports, the drone, featuring a redesigned model, was observed during its 30th flight test. System identification tests were conducted during the flight at Baykar's Flight Training and Test Center in the Keşan district of Edirne. The Bayraktar KALKAN, capable of conducting reconnaissance and intelligence operations, climbed to an altitude of 14,500 feet during the test and completed a successful flight time of 70 hours.
The Bayraktar KALKAN, equipped with capabilities for automatic route tracking, target tracking, circling, and returning home, underwent its flight test using the Baykar BG-160 camera, a fully domestically developed product by Baykar. The Bayraktar KALKAN can also capture high-resolution images at night using the Baykar BG-160 Electro-Optical System, which includes thermal imaging capabilities. The drone can effectively conduct reconnaissance, surveillance, and target detection missions both day and night.
Powered by four electric motors and one low-consumption gasoline engine, the drone takes off vertically using its electric motors and transitions into cruise flight mode, operating solely on its gasoline engine. The Bayraktar KALKAN, capable of reaching altitudes exceeding 14,500 feet with these engines, can conduct mission flights for over 7 hours. With its vertical take-off and landing capability, the domestic drone can easily execute mission flights in base areas and on floating platforms without the need for a runway.
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