BAE Systems, Turkish Aerospace to Develop Uncrewed Air Systems

BAE Systems and Turkish Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday to establish a strategic alliance focused on the joint development of uncrewed air systems (UAS).

The agreement will see experts from both companies collaborate to identify common areas of interest in the fast-evolving field of uncrewed systems. Details of specific programs or projects were not disclosed.

Turkish Aerospace, Turkey’s main aerospace and defense company, currently produces several UAS platforms, including the medium-altitude, long-endurance Aksungur and Anka, as well as the Anka III unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV).

BAE Systems has developed platforms such as the Herti, Mantis, and Taranis UCAV demonstrator. The company also owns logistics UAV specialist Malloy Aeronautics and is developing a collaborative autonomous platform as part of the U.K.’s future combat air system effort.

The announcement follows Turkey’s recent £5.4 billion ($7.2 billion) agreement to acquire 20 Eurofighter Typhoons, with BAE Systems leading final assembly work at its Warton facility in Lancashire. BAE has also supported Turkish Aerospace in the development of the indigenous KAAN fighter.

In a related development, BAE Systems in September signed a separate MoU with Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works to explore modular UAS designed for electronic warfare and suppression of enemy air defenses.