25.01.2025, 14:54
Zitat:Baykar KALKAN VTOL UAV Breaks New Endurance Record
24 Jan 2025, 01:28 2 mins
Turkiye
Unmanned Systems
Baykar KALKAN VTOL UAV Breaks New Endurance Record TurDef
KALKAN VTOL UAV of Baykar, developed for ISR operations, has broken its endurance record at eight hours during its maximum endurance flight test.
The previous maximum endurance was given as seven hours. Changes to control systems or fuel tanks might have allowed the new endurance. Four vertical electric engines power KALKAN for take-off and landing, plus an 18-hp internal combustion engine from Erin Motor for normal flight.
Thanks to VTOL capability, KALKAN was developed for ISR to be used by bases, artillery units, and potentially warships without requiring a runway or catapult.
KALKAN UAV can use various electro-optical systems including Baykar's self-developed BG-160, BG-180, and BG-220.
BG-160, weighing 2.4 kg, was developed in day and thermal configurations with 1920x1080 px and 640x512 px resolutions, respectively. The thermal configuration was created in response to a request from Turkish Special Forces. Both versions of BG-160 feature a laser rangefinder with a range of three kilometres, a designator, and a coordinate feed to assist artillery units.
BG-180 day electro-optic with a weight of four kilograms has increased laser designation range to five kilometres.
The BG-220, weighing about 7 kg, is the most capable option, carrying day and MWIR optics simultaneously. The laser designation range is also longer, at seven kilometres.
https://turdef.com/article/baykar-kalkan...nce-record
Italien hat möglicherweise an bewaffneten Drohnen aus der Türkei Interesse und möchte diese mit Sensoren der Leonardo Gruppe ausrüsten.
https://x.com/BaburKhan1983/status/1882908543357260137