According to Anadolu Agency, Turkey has advanced to the top three countries in the world in combat drone technology.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared at the delivery ceremony for the Bayraktar Akinci combat drone in the northwestern Tekirdag province, “With our unmanned combat aerial vehicle Akinci, Turkey has become one of the three most advanced countries in the world in this technology.”
Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s determination to become the world leader in combat drones, saying the country must create new technologies.
He stated that the country’s goal is to build armed drones that can take off and land on aircraft carriers with limited runways for use in foreign missions.
Erdogan also praised Turkey’s increased usage of domestic defense items, which has risen from 20% to almost 80% in recent years.
On July 8, the Bayraktar Akinci set a new record for Turkish aviation by flying to a height of 38,039 feet (11,594 meters) in a journey that lasted 25 hours and 46 minutes.
In a July 5 firing test with warhead ammunition manufactured by Turkish rocket manufacturer Roketsan, the Akinci, which has flown 874 sorties in test and training flights, hit its targets with pinpoint accuracy.
