First test fire of HGK-82 ammunition from AKINCI UAV achieves remarkable results

Under the guidance of the Presidency of Defense Industries, the Bayraktar AKINCI Project is making successful progress in integrating locally produced ammunition and systems into the nationally developed Bayraktar AKINCI TİHA, originally created by Baykar. The recent test firing, utilizing the domestically developed Precision Guidance Kit (HGK) from TÜBİTAK SAGE, achieved remarkable results. Departing from the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ, the Bayraktar AKINCI took off with MK-82 ammunition guided by HGK and successfully hit the designated target. This marked the first test fire of HGK-82 ammunition from an unmanned aerial vehicle, as part of the ongoing efforts to integrate new ammunition and systems into the Bayraktar AKINCI TİHA. By adding this capability, Bayraktar AKINCI enhances its deterrence capabilities. TEKNOFEST 2023 made history with the groundbreaking tests conducted by Bayraktar AKINCI and Bayraktar KIZILELMA on April 24, 2023, including the first-ever close-arm flight in the history of aviation, followed by numerous public demonstrations in the skies of Istanbul. Through a competitive process, Baykar outperformed its American, European, and Chinese competitors, securing an export contract worth $370 million for Bayraktar TB2 with the Kuwait Ministry of Defense. With additional exports to Romania, Bayraktar TB2 SİHAs have now entered the inventories of four NATO member countries and two EU member countries. Since the inception of UAV R&D in 2003, Baykar has self-funded all its projects and has generated 75% of its revenue through exports. In 2021, it claimed the top spot as the export leader in the defense and aerospace industry, according to the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM). In 2022, Baykar achieved an export rate of 99.3% in the contracts it signed, resulting in $1.18 billion in exports. As the largest exporter in the defense and aerospace industry, Baykar recorded a turnover of $1.4 billion in 2022. Export agreements have been signed with 30 countries for Bayraktar TB2 SİHA and with six countries for Bayraktar AKINCI TİHA.