UAV / UCAV
AKSUNGUR
AKSUNGUR is a twin-engine medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone developed and produced by Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) in Ankara for surveillance and armed missions. A scaled-up member of the ANKA family, it can stay airborne for up to 50 hours and carry more than 750 kg.
Türkiye|TUSAŞ (Turkish Aerospace)Overview
AKSUNGUR first flew on 20 March 2019, with automatic take-off and landing, and reportedly stayed airborne for about 49 hours during testing later that year. Its 24 m wing has six hardpoints, and Turkish Aerospace lists a 3,300 kg maximum take-off weight, a 40,000 ft ceiling and a SATCOM range of more than 5,000 km. Two 170 hp turbodiesels power it, and the domestic TEI PD170 has been flight-proven on the type. Sensors include EO/IR, SAR radar, SIGINT and, for anti-submarine work, sonobuoys and a MAD boom.
The first AKSUNGUR was delivered to the Turkish Naval Forces in October 2021, and the Air Force and police later received aircraft. Open sources cited about 12 built by March 2023, a figure TUSAŞ has not confirmed. The drone patrols the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean and carries munitions such as MAM-L, L-UMTAS, TEBER and KGK-82. Deliveries to Kyrgyzstan and Chad and orders from Algeria, Angola and Uzbekistan have been reported but not all officially confirmed. Some losses over northern Iraq were reported in 2023–2024.
Key Specifications
Variants
ANKA: Turkish Aerospace’s first medium-altitude long-endurance drone, which made its first flight in 2010 and founded the family.
ANKA-S: the SATCOM-equipped version of ANKA, allowing beyond-line-of-sight control over long distances.
AKSUNGUR: the larger twin-engine derivative of ANKA, with six hardpoints, up to 50 hours of endurance and a maritime patrol option.
Operators
TürkiyeFrequently Asked Questions
How long can AKSUNGUR fly?
AKSUNGUR can stay airborne for up to 50 hours, according to Turkish Aerospace. During testing in 2019 it reportedly flew for about 49 hours unarmed, and a November 2023 flight with the domestic PD170 engine lasted 41 hours.
AKSUNGUR vs AKINCI: what is the difference?
AKINCI is a heavier drone built by Baykar, while AKSUNGUR is made by Turkish Aerospace. AKSUNGUR focuses on long endurance, up to 50 hours with two 170 hp diesel engines, and offers maritime and anti-submarine options such as sonobuoys and a MAD boom.
How much payload can AKSUNGUR carry?
AKSUNGUR carries more than 750 kg of payload on six hardpoints. Turkish Aerospace lists munitions such as TEBER-81/82, L-UMTAS, MAM-L, MAM-C, Cirit, HGK-3 and KGK-82, as well as sensor payloads including EO/IR turrets and SAR radar.
Which countries use AKSUNGUR?
Türkiye is the only officially confirmed AKSUNGUR operator, with aircraft in the Navy, Air Force and police. Open sources report deliveries to Kyrgyzstan and Chad and orders from Algeria, Angola and Uzbekistan, but TUSAŞ has not publicly confirmed all of them.
How much does AKSUNGUR cost?
Turkish Aerospace has not published a unit price for AKSUNGUR. Costs vary with the number of aircraft, sensor and weapons packages, ground stations and support, so any figures that appear in the media are estimates.
Who makes AKSUNGUR?
AKSUNGUR is made by Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) in Ankara. It is a scaled-up derivative of the company’s ANKA family, and its name is the Turkish word for the gyrfalcon, or white falcon.
