Turkish defence firm Baykar has released images of a concept unmanned jet that could operate from the Turkish helicopter carrier TCG Anadolu.
The company tweeted:
“Combat Unmanned Aircraft System (#MİUS ) is the first time we share the conceptual design images of our project.”
Muharip İnsansız Uçak Sistemi (#MİUS) projemizin kavramsal tasarım görsellerini ilk kez paylaşıyoruz.
Milletimize ve tüm İslam alemine sağlıklı ve mutlu bir #KurbanBayramı dileriz.#MilliTeknolojiHamlesi ✈️🚀🌍🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/pHi2uprOrV
— BAYKAR (@BaykarTech) July 20, 2021
The Turkish Navy is facing a bit of a problem with regard to what to put on the vessel. Turkey had intended to operate F-35Bs from its new assault ship, that can’t happen now.
However, the Turlish helicopter carrier Anadolu could be capable of carrying up to 50 Bayraktar TB 3 combat drones.
Haluk Bayraktar, the chief executive of Turkish drone-maker Baykar, revealed images and video of a new launch system during an online event in May that could be fitted to the vessel.
The TCG Anadolu is based on the Spanish ship Juan Carlos I, a multi-purpose amphibious assault ship. Navantia provided design, technology transfer, equipment and technical assistance to Sedef Shipyard of Turkey for the design and development of the Anadolu.
They are certainly determined adapt and progress aren’t they. Speed of their decision making is a nod in our direction too perhaps.
Yeh, Erdogen is barrel of laughs. Thinks he a Sultan of the new Ottoman Empire.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/young-airman-jailed-for-life-is-symbol-of-erdogans-five-year-coup-vendetta-hxfvpcg2b
Designing a fully capable jet powered and Carrier capable UCAV is no easy task.
Operating such a beast from a small deck will be no easy task though, landings will be a might hair raising, to say the least….
I would personally want an angled deck, so I didn’t end up with a screaming jet UCAV running straight down the middle of my flight deck if things went wrong!
Are the Turks up to the challenge, they certainly are, they have proven themselves as extremely competent engineers, also, if they decide that’s what they are doing, the Turkish government will write a blank cheque to make it happen.
It depends on what you view the risk case as being.
If you don’t care about the risks then a lot more is possible.
Personally I think you can get it to work but not in a way that would be acceptable to UK/France/US levels of safety.
The Turks are probably more interested in face saving than anything else as it is embarrassing for them having a carrier with no planes. I’ve heard that before somewhere?
UK couldn’t do it post Haddon Cave: that is for sure.
Believe it when I see it. Smacks of the endless Russian design proposals, models and renderings to me
yep.
It will end up with some army helicopters and a haphazard drone slingshot to say “see! we don’t need NATO’s F-35!”
Cameras won’t be rolling for the accidents.
I wouldn’t underestimate the Turks, they were pivotal in the recent Armenia /Azerbaijan conflict and in Syria they held their own against a formidable trio of opponents.
Agreed 100%. They still havent designed a jet engine for their Hurjet trainer aircraft. Now they want a fully AI controlled jet. Even the US who are the most advanced are still testing their AI systems, and not close to being fit for service. Not only that but Turkey’s carrier (missing an oblique deck and CATOBAR) is not suited for fixed wing conventional naval ops. But ofc Turkey will develop a STOVL. It’s as easy as wishing for it and snapping your fingers. Hard to believe anything form Turkey under Erdogan’s rule. Talk is cheap LOL
Is that a Phalanx with two SeaRAMs bolted on?
Whether it comes to pass or not, I admire the Turks for being proactive about this. No F35’s…. no problem, we’ll knock up some of our own uber drones to use instead.
They do seem to be up to speed on the drones.
its a shame that information on projects like dragon fire, and the striking ability of the taranis drone and the plans to provide a folding wing version and make it carrier deployable. dragon fire under testing has been bounced around for ages ,without updates being given
Job adverts going up in Lancashire for an outsourced contract to work on fast jet undercarriages for a firm in “Ankara, Turkey”. Quite possibly related.
I’m surprised at how many still underestimate the Turks. Turkey home of a major empire a century ago is in a revival mode economically and technology wise too. They have developed their own air defence system , tanks , corvettes ,frigates , ballastic missiles able to hit any city in Europe ,submarines, satalites, drones and now carriers. The very fact they can assemble a carrier says a lot about their engineering capabilities . They have developed autonomous fast attack boats with anti ship missiles that work with their drones with anti ship missiles too. They have a railgun, laser weapon . Soon they will launch a mission to the moon.
A.lot of problems facing the Turkish military No F35 and a S 400 system that’s falling well short on expecttions . Living in Turkey part of the year it’s on the news regular
James, don’t you know Turkeys don’t fly.
Nice idea … surely the next logical step in and autonomous future. 😵