(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The Turkish defense company. ROKETSAN has successfully conducted additional test firing of cruise missile “CAKIR” from the medium altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), “Bayraktar Akinci.”
The Bayraktar Akinci drone, equipped with the CAKIR cruise missile, took off from the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Tekirdağ’s Çorlu district on February 29 and headed to Sinop to carry out the firing test.
An Akinci drone is capable of carrying up to five CAKIR cruise missiles.
The CAKIR cruise missile was launched at a target approximately 100km away in the Black Sea, reaching speeds of 800km per hour and successfully hitting its target with precision.
Powered by the local KTJ-1750 turbojet engine produced by Kale Arge, the CAKIR cruise missile achieved its maiden flight in May last year and is capable of striking strategic land and sea targets with high accuracy.
According to defense observers, the launch of the CAKIR cruise missile from the Akinci drone represents a significant achievement for Turkey’s aerospace industry.
The launch is reported to be the first instance of a drone successfully firing a cruise missile at any target, thereby directly demonstrating the capabilities of Turkey’s defense industry.
The CAKIR, weighing a total of 275kg, has eight variants capable of precisely hitting targets up to 150km away.
Among the CAKIR cruise missile variants developed by ROKETSAN are anti-ship missiles, electronic warfare missiles, cruise missiles, and ‘swarm sensor’ missiles.
CAKIR can be launched from air, sea, and land platforms against targets on both land and sea.
The cruise missile can also be equipped with a 70kg “High Explosive Semi-Penetrating Particle Effect Thermobaric” warhead, highly effective against both armored and unarmored targets.
Additionally, CAKIR can be fitted with a booster engine to extend its range and is capable of flying close to the ground due to its “Super Sea-Skimming” feature, which further complicates enemy attempts to shoot it down.
The total length of the CAKIR cruise missile is over 4 meters. — DSA
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