Turkish company Baykar successfully tested their new drone, the Bayraktar KALKAN, which can take off and land vertically (VTOL).
This is a significant achievement as it allows the drone to operate from more locations without needing a runway.
The KALKAN completed a 30th test flight where engineers gathered important data on its systems. During the flight, it reached an altitude of over 14,500 feet and has flown a total of 70 hours so far.
The drone is equipped with a domestically produced camera by Baykar, the BG-160, which allows it to take high-resolution images even at night thanks to thermal imaging. This makes the KALKAN suitable for missions requiring reconnaissance and surveillance.
The KALKAN takes off vertically using electric motors and then switches to a gasoline engine for longer flights. This combination allows it to stay airborne for more than 7 hours.
Baykar is a leading Turkish company in drone technology and exports most of its products. They’ve been exporting since 2003 and achieved significant success, becoming the leader in defense and aerospace exports in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Their Bayraktar TB2 and AKINCI drones are already exported to a total of 34 countries.
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