Turkey has test-fired a supersonic ballistic missile from an unmanned combat aerial vehicle, striking a surface target in the Black Sea located 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the drone’s launch site.
Footage released by Baykar showed the Akinci drone taking off from the Corlu Flight Training and Test Center in Turkey’s Marmara region.
The aircraft flew across the Black Sea before releasing a Roketsan-made UAV-300 ballistic munition from beneath its wing and hitting the simulated target.
Akinci then returned to its home base following the engagement.
The test reportedly marked the first launch of the UAV-300 from an unmanned aircraft, demonstrating a heavy-strike capability traditionally associated with bomber aircraft.
Heavy Strike Platform
The Akinci is a multirole combat drone built for intelligence gathering and precision air-to-ground and air-to-air strikes.
Baykar said the aircraft can also be configured for maritime missions, including anti-submarine warfare and coastal patrols.
Equipped with an autonomous flight-control system, Akinci can reach an altitude of 40,000 feet (12,192 meters) and has a maximum range of 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles).
The drone can remain airborne for up to 24 hours while carrying a payload of 1,500 kilograms (3,307 pounds).
