Entering the field of robotic autonomous systems in 2019, HAVELSAN has built a platform ecosystem that includes unmanned aerial, ground, and naval vehicles. The company has now introduced another unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for use by security forces.
Following the BAHA UAV, HAVELSAN has developed BULUT, a reconnaissance and surveillance UAV, in line with the project initiated under the leadership of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and the requirements it defined.
After undergoing development at HAVELSAN’s Robotic Autonomous Systems Center for some time, BULUT successfully met the tests and requirements set by the Acceptance Committee, which included representatives from users and the SSB. As a result, the UAV was added to the inventories of the Turkish Armed Forces and the General Directorate of Security.
Equipped with an internal combustion engine, BULUT can stay airborne for six continuous hours and conduct reconnaissance and surveillance independently of GNSS.
Designed to operate under light rain and snowfall, the BULUT UAV system can function in various operational conditions thanks to its advanced sensors and software.
Currently in active use by security forces in operational areas, BULUT has a payload capacity of 5 kg and can share data over a range of up to 80 kilometers.
BULUT employs an electric motor system for vertical takeoff and landing, while its reconnaissance and surveillance operations are powered by a gasoline internal combustion engine, allowing it to remain airborne for up to six hours.
With advanced operational features such as moving object detection and avoidance, collision prevention, and anti-jamming capabilities, BULUT can be deployed for a wide range of missions, including border and coastal patrol, counter-smuggling and counter-terrorism operations, law enforcement and security tasks, narcotics detection, thermal imaging, wildfire response, post-disaster search and rescue, environmental pollution monitoring, agricultural applications, oil and gas pipeline security, energy infrastructure inspections, and search and rescue operations.
BULUT is fully autonomous and capable of taking off and landing without the need for a runway. It is also equipped with an EO/IR/LRF integrated camera system and features a handover capability, allowing mission control to be transferred between ground control stations—an essential feature for security forces.
Commenting on BULUT, HAVELSAN General Manager Dr. Mehmet Akif Nacar stated that they had developed a system that provides operational superiority in the field, fully aligned with the expectations of the Presidency of Defense Industries. He emphasized, “The SSB and our security forces played a significant role in the development of our new UAV, BULUT. The primary reason why BULUT quickly entered inventory and is now actively used in the field is our team’s rapid response to these expectations. I congratulate everyone involved in the project.”
HAVELSAN Deputy General Manager for Simulation, Autonomous, and Platform Management Technologies, Muhittin Solmaz, noted that BAHA was the company’s first UAV experience, and after three years of development, BULUT has further strengthened security forces. “BULUT, built upon the field experience of BAHA, will be a game-changer in its category. We wholeheartedly believe in this,” he said.
HAVELSAN Product Development and ELD Director Veysel Ataoğlu highlighted that BULUT is actively used in operational areas and that the team continuously improves the product based on field feedback. He added, “Following BARKAN and BAHA, BULUT has successfully completed various acceptance processes by the SSB and security forces, officially joining the inventory. We are also working on different versions of BULUT.”
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