Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has begun work to produce a drone with a higher payload capacity than all other medium-altitude, long-endurance drones on the market.
With the High Payload Capacity (HPHC) UAV project, a new UAV system will be designed and manufactured entirely using national resources. This system will have a higher payload capacity than all other Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs in the global market and will be suitable for reconnaissance, surveillance, search and rescue, signal intelligence, and combat missions, and can also be used for high-altitude operations when needed.
The YFYK UAV will have a payload capacity of up to 750 kg; it will be able to carry payloads such as electro-optical and wide-area surveillance cameras, synthetic aperture radar, and communications intelligence sensors in different combinations, and will be usable in long-range operations with control via the TÜRKSAT satellite.
The YFYK UAV is planned to use two twin-turbo piston engines, developed and manufactured domestically by TEI, each with a maximum power of 170 HP and maintaining power even at altitudes of 20,000 ft.
The aircraft's avionics components will also consist of units developed using national resources.
