The AKINCI UAV has located the wreckage of the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, which crashed near Tabriz on its return journey from Azerbaijan.
Bad weather conditions and increasing fog are hindering search and rescue efforts, and Iran has reportedly requested support from Türkiye in the form of helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with night vision capabilities.
Turkey responded swiftly to Iran's request, and an Akıncı UAV, 32 AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority) personnel, and a helicopter with night vision capabilities contributed to the search and rescue operations. The Akıncı UAV's superior imaging capabilities with ASELFLIR-500 and its advanced flight computer played a critical role in locating the crash site. Approximately 11 hours after the crash, at around 3:45 AM Turkish time, the UAV detected a high heat source. The location of this heat source, identified as the helicopter wreckage, was communicated to Iranian authorities. After Iranian officials confirmed the information with images obtained from the coordinates provided by the Akıncı UAV, the mission, which lasted approximately 7 hours, was completed. Before landing at the base, the Akıncı UAV drew a crescent moon and star over Lake Van, saluting the Turkish people.
This event once again showcased Türkiye's progress in unmanned aerial vehicle technology and the capabilities of the Akıncı UAV. During its challenging night mission, the Akıncı UAV successfully completed its task despite difficult weather conditions. The UAV's powerful engines and highly secure flight computer played a major role in enabling the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly safely and return to base in these challenging weather conditions.
The accident attracted significant attention on sites like FlightRadar and broke viewing records. The fact that the UAV took off from Türkiye, entered Iranian airspace, and searched the area where the helicopter crash occurred, aroused great curiosity among international viewers. And the AKINCI UAV managed to become the most-watched aircraft in the world.
While the performance and debris detection capabilities of the AKICNI UAV, developed by Baykar Technology, are a source of pride for us, we wish such an accident hadn't happened and hadn't come to public attention in this way. We offer our condolences to the friendly people of Iran.
What are the features of the AKINCI UAV?
The Akıncı UAV is an advanced unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Baykar Technology and added to the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces. Here are some of its notable features:
- Flight AltitudeThe Akıncı UAV can ascend to an altitude of 40,000 feet.
- Flight DurationIt can stay airborne for 24 hours.
- Takeoff WeightIt has a take-off weight of 6 tons.
- Payload CapacityIt has a payload capacity of 1.5 tons.
- Automatic Flight Control SystemIt features a fully automatic flight control system and a triple redundant autopilot system.
- Sensor FusionIt can navigate using internal sensor fusion without relying on GPS.
- Fully Automatic Navigation and Route TrackingIt can perform fully automatic route tracking and navigation without human intervention.
In terms of its areas of application, the Akıncı UAV stands out particularly in military operations, reconnaissance and surveillance missions, target detection, and precision strike capabilities. Furthermore, thanks to its high-tech sensors and cameras, it can also be used effectively in search and rescue operations.
