UAV / UCAV
Vestel Karayel
The Vestel Karayel is a Turkish tactical unmanned aerial vehicle made by Vestel Savunma, part of Zorlu Holding, in Türkiye. It first flew on 30 April 2014 and serves with the Turkish Armed Forces and, reportedly, Saudi Arabia.
Türkiye|Vestel Savunma (Lentatek)What Is the Vestel Karayel? Overview, History and Development
The standard Karayel is about 6.5 m long with a wingspan of about 10.5 m and a maximum takeoff weight of about 550 kg. A single engine of about 97 hp gives a top speed of about 150 km/h and a ceiling of about 6,900 m. Endurance is about 20 hours unloaded, 12 hours with a 60 kg payload and 8 hours with 120 kg, with a line-of-sight data link of over 150 km.
Karayel-SU is the armed version with a wingspan of about 13 m, a maximum weight of about 630 kg and hardpoints for light munitions of about 30 kg each. Operators are the Turkish Armed Forces, with about 10 aircraft reported, and Saudi Arabia, reportedly with 6 in use. Orders from Kosovo and Niger are unconfirmed until deliveries. Total production is reported at 16 or more. The Karayel has had far less export success than the Bayraktar TB2.
Vestel Karayel Specifications: Endurance, Range, Payload and Sensors
Vestel Karayel Variants and Versions Compared
The standard Karayel is the base tactical version of about 550 kg with endurance up to 20 hours.
Karayel-SU is the armed, extended-wing version with a wingspan of about 13 m and hardpoints for light munitions.
The armed Karayel-SU is the variant most often seen in news, carrying about 30 kg per hardpoint.
Which Countries Use the Vestel Karayel? Operators and Users
Türkiye
Saudi ArabiaVestel Karayel FAQ: Price, Range, Operators and Most Asked Questions
How much does the Karayel cost?
No official unit price is published for the Vestel Karayel. Export figures are not public, so any price quoted is an estimate and varies with payload and ground station.
How fast is the Karayel?
The Vestel Karayel has a maximum speed of about 150 km/h and a service ceiling of about 6,900 m. Its endurance is about 20 hours unloaded and 8 hours with a 120 kg payload.
Which countries use the Karayel?
The Vestel Karayel is used by the Turkish Armed Forces, with about 10 aircraft reported, and by Saudi Arabia, reported to have 6 in use. Orders from Kosovo and Niger are unconfirmed until deliveries.
Karayel vs Bayraktar TB2: which is better?
The Bayraktar TB2 has had much larger export success and combat use than the Vestel Karayel. The Karayel is bigger, at about 550 kg, but fewer countries have bought it, so the TB2 is the more proven system.
Is the Karayel armed?
The standard Vestel Karayel is a reconnaissance drone, while the Karayel-SU is the armed version. It has hardpoints for light munitions of about 30 kg each and a wingspan of about 13 m.
Who makes the Karayel?
The Karayel is made by Vestel Savunma, a company of Zorlu Holding in Türkiye, which is now known as Lentatek. It first flew on 30 April 2014 and uses mainly Turkish payloads.