Turkey's Baykar, which specializes in the manufacture of drones, intends to start commercial production and deliver vertical take-off and landing (DİHA) drones during 2022, after the company announced the completion of flight tests for the drone and its presentation at the Technovest Aviation and Space Technology Festival in Istanbul.
The "Bayraktar" drone has a vertical take-off and landing feature, and the ability to carry out missions in narrow spaces.
It has a communication range of 150 km, and it has the ability to land, take off and fly autonomously thanks to the technology of integrating sensors applied to it.
Its engine is characterized by its low fuel consumption and high endurance.
In statements to Anadolu Agency, Burak Ozbek, air vehicle design engineer at Baykar Company, said that vertical take-off drones are able to carry out their missions without the need for a runway, and can be placed in outposts, military units or naval platforms, as they can take off from any point.
Uzbek explained that the plane performs vertical landing and take-off using 4 electric motors, and that it continues to fly by an internal combustion engine that works with gasoline, so it is considered a hybrid air vehicle, noting that this feature enables it to fly 12 hours continuously, which is longer than the flight duration of any electric air vehicle. other.
The company's engineer added that the batteries of the helicopter can be charged thanks to the generators in the internal combustion engine.
Bayraktar performs vertical landing and take-off using 4 electric motors (Anatolia)
Features and features
On the other characteristics of the helicopter, Uzbek said that the useful payload weight of the vehicle is 5 kilograms, and that it contains a daytime camera, a thermal camera, a laser pointer, and a distance measuring device.
"The vehicle weighs 50 kilograms and has a wingspan of 5 meters. It can carry out operations at an altitude of 9,000 meters and fly at altitudes of up to 15,000 feet. Its speed reaches 45-50 knots. It can stay in the air for long periods and carry out reconnaissance missions." .
The engineer indicated that they are cooperating with local partners in the camera and engine systems, and that the model that was tested works on a local engine developed by the Erin Motor Company that works with electronic fuel injection.
Uzbek stressed that this engine is safer than engines that contain a "carburetor" and can supply power to all vehicle systems thanks to its generators.
This march contains a daytime camera, a thermal camera, a laser pointer, and a distance measuring device (Anatolia).
Flight tests completed
The engineer at Baykar pointed out that there are drones of this type in some countries, but their number is very few.
"Because the vertical take-off is done by an electric motor, the efficiency of the vehicle will constantly evolve and increase, in parallel with the development that takes place in battery technology," he added.
Uzbek also mentioned that it is possible to develop different versions of the vehicle in the future, which will be able to carry ammunition for various tasks.
He added, "The avionics, electronic systems, and software used in the vehicle have all proven their efficiency in the mini-drones and the Bayraktar and Akinci drones (produced by the company)."
Engineer Uzbek concluded by saying that they are close to completing the flight tests, and they plan to move to commercial production and delivery to customers within the next year.