Aksungur

Aksungur overview

The Aksungur is Turkey's most capable and heaviest unmanned aerial vehicle, developed by TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries) as a step-change beyond the Bayraktar TB2 in payload capacity, endurance, and multi-mission versatility. Where the TB2 is a light strike platform with a ~55 kg payload, the Aksungur is powered by two PD170 turbodiesel engines developed entirely within Turkey by TEI (Turkish Engine Industries), allowing it to carry up to 750 kg of payload across 24+ hours of continuous flight — a combination that enables simultaneous carriage of heavy weapons and sophisticated sensor packages that the TB2 cannot support.

The Turkish Navy's interest in Aksungur for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare reflects the platform's exceptional combination of endurance and payload. A 24-hour maritime patrol covering vast sea areas requires more than the fuel a TB2 can carry; the Aksungur's twin turbodiesels and large fuel fraction enable the kind of persistent ocean coverage that previously required expensive P-3 Orion or Boeing P-8 crewed patrol aircraft. For anti-submarine warfare, the Aksungur can carry sonobouys — dropped to listen for submarine acoustic signatures — alongside heavyweight Turkish torpedoes (TORK) for the actual attack on a located submarine. This combination of detection and engagement in a single unmanned platform is a capability Turkey's crewed patrol aircraft cannot replicate.

Active export discussions through 2026 saw Turkey briefing multiple potential customers including Central Asian states, Middle Eastern nations outside the Gulf Cooperation Council, and African states that have previously purchased TB2. Turkey's willingness to transfer Aksungur technology and establish co-production arrangements — a policy that distinguishes it from Western UAV suppliers with stricter technology control regimes — has made it an attractive supplier for governments that cannot access American or Israeli MALE platforms. The Aksungur's combat-use record in Turkish operations against PKK and Syrian targets also provides operational credibility that some newer platforms cannot offer prospective buyers.

Armament

Up to 12 × MAM-L smart micro munitions, 2 × Roketsan Cirit laser-guided rockets, Turkish lightweight torpedo (TORK), or anti-ship missiles

Development and operational timeline

1. Mar 2017TAI begins Aksungur development; twin PD170 engine configuration and 750 kg payload target specified
2. Mar 2019Aksungur prototype first flight; twin-engine configuration and systems integration validated
3. Dec 2019First MAM-L precision munitions delivery test; 12-munition load validated
4. Jun 2021Aksungur achieves 49-hour continuous flight; endurance record for Turkish UAV
5. Oct 2021Turkish Navy evaluation begins; maritime patrol and ASW role assessment conducted
6. Apr 2022TORK torpedo integration tested; Aksungur demonstrates anti-submarine warfare capability
7. Nov 2022Turkish Air Force combat use in northern Syria and Iraq; Aksungur strikes PKK positions
8. Jul 2023Export marketing begins; Aksungur briefed to African and Central Asian potential customers
9. Mar 2024EW payload variant developed; Aksungur tested with active jamming and SIGINT collection systems
10. Oct 2024First Aksungur export customer announced; transfer agreement signed pending delivery
11. May 2025Turkish Navy formally procures Aksungur for maritime patrol squadron; operational deployment begins
12. Feb 2026Aksungur export deliveries begin; second international customer confirms order