FlightGlobal
• Lizzie Rix
Two separate developments point to expanding maritime UAV roles: an Indian Naval Academy team has designed an autonomous quadcopter for search and a hexacopter to deliver lifebuoys, while Baykar says its Kalkan VTOL UAV has completed its first at-sea flight tests. The reports provide no further performance or deployment details.
Bayraktar
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Two separate developments point to expanding maritime UAV roles: an Indian Naval Academy team has designed an autonomous quadcopter for search and a hexacopter to deliver lifebuoys, while Baykar says its Kalkan VTOL UAV has completed its first at-sea flight tests. The reports provide no further performance or deployment details.
The Kalkan vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle has conducted its first at-sea flight tests off the Turkish frigate TCG Gelibolu. The tests mark an initial demonstration of the aircraft operating from a naval vessel, though no further details on the trial or the UAV’s capabilities were provided.
Italy’s air force has ordered six Astore Levante armed drones from the Leonardo-Baykar joint venture. Certification is expected between late 2026 and early 2027, setting a timeline for the platform’s approval and entry into service.
Italy’s air force is due to acquire six drones derived from Baykar’s TB-3, with the aircraft being assembled in Italy by LBA Systems. Italy is also looking at MBDA armaments for the Italo-Turkish platform, linking domestic assembly with a potential European weapons fit.
ASELSAN flew Bayraktar TB2 drones equipped with its ANTIDOT electronic-support and electronic-warfare pod and FULMAR 200 synthetic-aperture radar pod during an international demonstration in Konya, Turkey. Defense delegations from 18 countries observed the systems perform radar detection, SAR imaging and electronic-warfare missions.
Baykar has successfully tested its new UAV-300 supersonic ballistic missile from an Akinci uncrewed aircraft, adding another strike option to the platform’s weapons portfolio. The test expands the Turkish UAV maker’s demonstrated air-launched munition capabilities, although no additional details on range, payload or operational deployment were provided.
Turkey’s Baykar, known for its Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı military drones, is expanding into commercial aviation by pursuing a dedicated cargo airline. The proposed carrier would operate Airbus A321P2F freighters, marking a new diversification effort for the privately held aerospace company.
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