Bayraktar AKINCI TİHA: Full Specifications and Operational Use
Bayraktar AKINCI is Baykar’s high-altitude, long-endurance combat drone — a step up from the TB2 in size, payload and mission reach. With cruise missile carriage, AESA radar and beyond-line-of-sight satellite control, AKINCI has redefined what an export-grade armed drone can do. Here are its specifications, weapons, sensors and operational record.
What Is the AKINCI TİHA?
AKINCI — pronounced “ah-keen-jee”, Turkish for “raider” — is a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned combat aircraft developed by Baykar. Designated TİHA (Taarruzi İnsansız Hava Aracı — Offensive Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) in Turkish service, it entered the Turkish Armed Forces inventory on 29 August 2021. AKINCI sits between the TB2 in size and a manned strike aircraft in capability — capable of carrying a heavier and more diverse weapons mix than any propeller-driven drone outside the United States.
| Key Facts — Bayraktar AKINCI |
|---|
| Class: High-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UCAV Manufacturer: Baykar Type designation: TİHA Entered Turkish Armed Forces service: 29 August 2021 MTOW: 6,000 kg Useful payload: 1,500 kg (including 450 kg internal) Endurance: 24+ hours Service ceiling: 40,000 ft |
AKINCI Technical Specifications
AKINCI is designed around three powerplant options, allowing operators to tailor the aircraft’s payload and altitude performance to mission requirements. The two more powerful variants enable cruise missile carriage and high-altitude operations.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 20 m |
| Length | 12.2 m |
| Maximum take-off weight (MTOW) | 6,000 kg |
| Useful payload | 1,500 kg (450 kg internal + 1,350 kg external) |
| Powerplant options | 2 × turboprop, 450 / 750 / 850 hp |
| Cruise speed | 130 knots (240 km/h) |
| Maximum speed | 195 knots (361 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 40,000 ft (12,200 m) |
| Endurance | 24+ hours |
| Communication | Dual SATCOM (BVLOS), LOS data link |
| Hardpoints | 8 |
Sensors and Avionics
AKINCI is the first Baykar platform with a full sensor stack approaching that of a manned strike aircraft. Its avionics suite enables stand-in ISR, electronic warfare support and beyond-line-of-sight strike, all coordinated from a single ground control station.
AESA radar (Aselsan-developed) for air-to-air and air-to-surface modes
EO/IR sensor turret with laser designator
Synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) / Ground moving target indicator (GMTI)
Electronic support measures (ESM) and ECM pods
Dual SATCOM for true beyond-line-of-sight operation
Triple-redundant flight control and full autonomous taxi/take-off/landing
Weapons: From MAM to Cruise Missiles
The most consequential difference between AKINCI and the TB2 is the weapons envelope. AKINCI carries the entire TB2 weapons set — plus everything heavier that Turkish industry produces.
| Weapon | Class | Manufacturer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAM-L / MAM-C / MAM-T | Laser-guided micro-munitions | Roketsan | Carryover from TB2 |
| MK-81 / MK-82 / MK-83 | Unguided bombs (with HGK/KGK kits) | NATO standard | Convert to precision-guided bombs |
| SOM | Air-launched cruise missile | Roketsan / Tübitak SAGE | 250+ km stand-off range |
| Gökdoğan | BVR air-to-air missile | Tübitak SAGE / Roketsan | Air-to-air capability |
| Bozdoğan | WVR air-to-air missile | Tübitak SAGE / Roketsan | Air-to-air, high off-boresight |
| LACM-class | Stand-off cruise missile (planned) | Roketsan | Long-range strike |
Operational Use and Combat Record
AKINCI is deployed by the Turkish Armed Forces in counter-terrorism, ISR and strike roles, and has been used in operations along Türkiye’s southern border. Export operators have begun fielding the aircraft in their own counter-insurgency campaigns. In late 2025, Pakistan reportedly used AKINCIs in a notable cross-border ISR mission, while Saudi Arabia’s 60-aircraft order was confirmed alongside an industrial agreement to establish a local production line — the largest single export contract in AKINCI’s history.
Where AKINCI Fits in the Baykar Family
AKINCI is the middle child in Baykar’s line-up: heavier than the TB2 and TB3, but propeller-driven and not stealth-optimised like KIZILELMA. Its mission profile is the long, heavy strike sortie — the kind a manned strike aircraft would normally fly. Operators that need ISR depth, satellite reach and cruise missile carriage at a fraction of an F-16’s operating cost have made AKINCI the workhorse of their unmanned strike fleets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does TİHA mean?
TİHA stands for Taarruzi İnsansız Hava Aracı — “Offensive Unmanned Aerial Vehicle”.
How much can AKINCI carry?
1,500 kg of useful payload across 8 hardpoints — 450 kg internal and up to 1,350 kg external.
Can AKINCI fire cruise missiles?
Yes — AKINCI has been demonstrated firing the Roketsan SOM air-launched cruise missile.
Does AKINCI have satellite control?
Yes — dual SATCOM systems allow beyond-line-of-sight operation worldwide.
When did AKINCI enter Turkish service?
On 29 August 2021. Serial production has continued steadily; by early 2026, Baykar reports over 110 delivered.
Conclusion
AKINCI is the most capable propeller-driven armed drone in widespread export service today. With cruise missile carriage, AESA radar, dual SATCOM, and a 1,500 kg payload, it bridges the gap between traditional MALE drones and manned strike aircraft — and, increasingly, between Baykar and the world’s top-tier defence exporters.
Suggested Images (with alt text + sources)
Search the WordPress Media Library first for the keywords below. If no asset exists, use the suggested external source (royalty-free / official press).
| # | Suggested Image | Alt Text / Caption | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image 1 | akinci-flight.jpg | Bayraktar AKINCI TİHA in flight at altitude | Search WP Media first (‘AKINCI’); fallback: Baykar Tech press kit (baykartech.com/en/uav/bayraktar-akinci/) |
| Image 2 | akinci-som-loadout.jpg | AKINCI armed with Roketsan SOM cruise missile | Search WP Media first (‘AKINCI SOM’); fallback: Roketsan official media |
| Image 3 | akinci-ground.jpg | Bayraktar AKINCI on the ground showing wingspan | Search WP Media first; fallback: Baykar press kit, Wikimedia Commons |
Sources
Baykar Bayraktar Akıncı — Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baykar_Bayraktar_Ak%C4%B1nc%C4%B1
Bayraktar Akinci UAV — Air Force Technology — https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/bayraktar-akinci-unmanned-combat-aerial-vehicle-ucav/
Baykar Bayraktar Akinci — Military Factory — https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=1995
The Bayraktar Akinci UAV Is Cementing Turkey’s Drone Superpower Status — The National Interest — https://nationalinterest.org/blog/silk-road-rivalries/the-bayraktar-akinci-uav-is-cementing-turkeys-drone-superpower-status-mc-122125
AKINCI envanterde kaç adet — Siperdef — https://siperdef.com/bayraktar-akinci-tiha-analiz/
