Ankara - To complement the development process in the field of drones, Turkey recently completed the "Agon" drone, a versatile drone, due to its technical advantages and technical characteristics.
The aircraft was developed by Rubet Technologies, a leading company in this field with nearly 15 years of experience, and its efforts in the past two years have focused on the project of developing the suicide drone with innovative solutions.
According to the company's product manager, Selçuk Fırat, the drone has successfully passed flight tests and is characterized by two delta-shaped wings, a large flight range and a high payload capacity.
This comes in the context of Turkish interest in the field of national defense industries, with Turkish defense and space exports last year exceeding the $ 4 billion barrier for the first time in its history.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently stated that the number of Turkish companies operating in the field of defense industries had increased from 56 companies in 2002 to more than 2022,<> companies by the end of <>.
The Turkish industry was characterized by the development of air vehicle projects and the production of various models of air vehicles, the most prominent of which was the "Bayraktar Qizil Alma", which is the first Turkish unmanned combat drone.
The Turkish industry has also produced other distinguished drones, foremost of which are the Bayraktar Akinci, Bayraktar TB2, Aksankar and the silver Phoenix of the Kargu.
The aircraft "Agony" was designed in two versions with a wingspan of 150 and 200 centimeters (Anatolia)
The first of its kind
The drone is the first of its kind in the Turkish Air Force, and has shown effectiveness thanks to its technical and operational characteristics; it is capable of carrying different types of ammunition, including warheads available in the Turkish Armed Forces or others, giving it the possibility of integrating it into the air forces of other countries.
The drone is scheduled to be tested with ammunition in the coming months, before being ready for production by the middle or end of this year.
According to Selçuk Fırat, the aircraft was designed in two versions with a wingspan of 150 and 200 centimeters, and the 200 model can carry a payload of up to 15 kilograms and weigh 50 kilograms at takeoff, and the 150 model weighs about 7 kilograms and can carry 3 kilograms of ammunition.
The march has a range of 500 kilometers, a speed above 270 kilometers per hour, and can fly at an altitude of 300 to 3 thousand meters.
Its structure is also composed of composite material, which makes it possible to detect it on enemy radar as little as possible. The drone can be stabilized in 5 minutes and launched by firing mode, and can be transported by civilian vehicle or military vehicle.
The march is routed through a personal computer via its camera and with a range of up to 200 kilometers. It can also be operated on autopilot mode with its own impellers turned on.
The "torment" drone is equipped with sensors, and also has the ability to completely destroy itself, if intercepted or after hitting the target and completing its mission, ensuring that no enemy data is leaked.
Furat announced that the drone sector has received great attention worldwide, and that negotiations are already underway with official bodies in two unspecified countries that have expressed interest in obtaining the new drone, "torment".
"Torment" has the ability to completely destroy itself to ensure that no data is leaked (Anatolia)
In support of foreign policy
Researcher and academic Gan Davcioglu says Turkey's investments in defense industries, which have increased in recent years, have strengthened its international political standing.
The member of the Middle East Institute for Studies (ORSAM) in Ankara added that the increase in Turkish investments in security equipment has positive effects from the economic, security and political aspects, adding that "this equipment, which has been tested in conflict areas in Africa as well as in Turkey's neighboring countries, has proven its ability based on cost-benefit analysis."
According to the spokesman, the international demand for Turkey is increasing for the efficiency of this equipment, which is also beneficial to the Turkish economy.
"The increase in new security equipment such as the suicide march (torment) is having a multiplier effect on the current political and economic capacity. Turkey's possession of such strategic products not only strengthens its position in international politics, but also acts as a deterrent against potential threats."
"The mentioned security equipment can be considered as one of the main elements supporting Turkish foreign policy," he said.
The march can be routed through a personal computer and with a communication range of up to 200 km (Anatolia)
Suicide marches
According to international reports, the design of the Turkish march "torment" is similar to its counterparts in the category of Iranian suicide marches, such as Shahed 136, which Russia uses in the war against Ukraine.
Other models include the Israeli march "Harop", the Americas "AeroVermont", and "Switchblade", which have come to be used by Ukraine against Russia.
In a statement to Al Jazeera Net, a source from the company "Robotic" said that "the structure of the march is a torment that differs from Iran's suicide marches. Yes, their wings are delta-shaped, but the installation of two wings of torment in the chassis is different, and they are different in terms of structure, design and use, which will have an impact on many other characteristics such as speed and fuel consumption."
The source, who preferred not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media, added that the logistical and operational use is different and the use of ammunition is different.
"Of course, this product will contribute to the Turkish defense industry, Azab has been designed as a platform, and it will be produced in a way that can be redesigned and used according to demand and need. The characteristics of the shape, size and ammunition can also be changed, and the presence of these features is a necessary system for the defense industry."
The small size of the drone enables the installation of various types of weapons such as mortars, tank guns and RPGs, in addition to the types of ammunition available to the Turkish forces, and in the future a type of ammunition can be designed for them.