Turkey’s AESA Radar Transmits Data to Ground in First Flight with AKINCI Drone

Turkey’s Baykar Technology today announced the first test flight of Bayraktar AKINCI UAV with the MURAD AESA radar developed by ASELSAN was successfully completed.

The MURAD is considered a competitor to the Northrop Grumman  AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) that is equipped on the F-16. The Turkish radar has already been tried on the Turkish F-16 and may power the KAAN fifth generation fighter that Turkey is developing.

During the first flight test, the MURAD AESA Radar integrated into AKINCI drone transmitted radar-acquired data to the ground control station. The next step is for the GÖKDOĞAN Air-to-Air Missile will be fired from AKINCI based on data obtained by the AESA radar.

The MURAD  radar and GÖKDOĞAN missile will be mounted on the KIZILELMA unmanned aircraft, which has aggressive maneuverability. The KIZILELMA aircraft will use the MURUD AESA radar to fire the the GÖKHAN RamJet Propelled Air-to-Air Missile.

ASELSAN wrote its social media account: “ASELSAN MURAD 100-A AESA Nose Radar made its first flight with Bayraktar AKINCI . This game-changing technology, which only a few countries in the world have been able to develop, will greatly contribute to AKINCI’s air dominance and awareness.”