Turkey’s AKINCI Drone Hits High-Speed Aerial Target with SUNGUR Missile in Black Sea Test

SINOP, Turkey — Turkey’s Bayraktar AKINCI unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) successfully hit a high-speed aerial target using ROKETSAN’s SUNGUR air-defense missile during a test over the Black Sea.

Black Sea Missile Test

The AKINCI took off from Baykar’s Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ, and flew to the designated test area off the coast of Sinop.

During the test, the UCAV engaged a high-speed target aircraft. The AKINCI launched the SUNGUR missile, which achieved a direct hit. After completing the engagement, the aircraft returned to Çorlu along its planned flight route.

SUNGUR Missile

Developed by ROKETSAN, SUNGUR is an indigenous short-range air-defense missile designed to engage fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The missile uses an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker and operates in a lock-on-before-launch, fire-and-forget configuration. Reported specifications give it a range of about 8 km and an altitude reach of up to 4–6 km, depending on the source and configuration.

SUNGUR weighs approximately 14.5 kg, measures 1.68 metres in length and carries a high-explosive semi-armour-piercing warhead. The missile can be integrated with land, naval and aerial platforms, including UAVs.

Expanding AKINCI Air-to-Air Capability

The SUNGUR test adds another air-to-air weapon to AKINCI’s growing weapons portfolio.

The platform has previously conducted successful air-to-air firing tests involving the KEMANKEŞ-1 AI-based mini cruise missile and the EREN high-speed multi-purpose loitering munition, both against aerial targets over the Black Sea.

AKINCI has also been integrated with a wide range of Turkish-developed weapons, including MAM-L, MAM-C, MAM-T, TOLUN, TEBER-81, TEBER-82, LAÇİN, LGK, HGK, GÖKÇE, GÖZDE, İHA-122, İHA-230, İHA-300, ÇAKIR and EREN.

Recent İHA-300 Test

Earlier in September, the AKINCI launched the İHA-300 supersonic missile against a maritime target at a range exceeding 250 kilometres during a separate Black Sea test.

Together, these weapon integrations provide the AKINCI with demonstrated engagement options against ground, maritime and aerial targets, from shorter-range weapons to long-range strike systems.

Export Activity

Baykar states that it finances its projects with its own resources. The company has signed AKINCI export agreements with multiple countries and remains a major exporter in the unmanned aerial vehicle sector.

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