Türkiye’s Baykar Akinci Drone Successfully Tests Eren and Alpagut Loitering Munitions Expanding Dual-Role Strike Capability
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On August 7, 2025, Turkish defense manufacturer Baykar conducted a milestone test of its Bayraktar Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), as reported by Baykar. For the first time, the aircraft successfully launched two new domestically produced loitering munitions, the jet-powered multirole Eren and the propeller-driven Alpagut, in a single mission. The test, carried out over maritime targets off Sinop, underscores Türkiye’s drive to enhance its indigenous strike drone arsenal with systems capable of engaging both air and ground threats, reinforcing its position in the competitive loitering munitions market.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
By successfully demonstrating the launch of both Eren and Alpagut in a single test, Baykar and its partners Roketsan and STM have showcased a leap in unmanned aerial combat versatility (Picture source: Baykar)
The Eren and Alpagut represent complementary capabilities integrated into the Akinci platform. Developed by Roketsan, the Eren is a high-speed, multirole loitering munition weighing 35 kg, powered by a turbojet engine, and boasting a 100 km range. It can engage both slow-moving airborne targets and a variety of surface threats using an IIR seeker. In contrast, the Alpagut, jointly developed by Roketsan and STM, uses an electrically driven propeller, carries an 11 kg warhead in multiple configurations, and offers more than 60 minutes of loiter time with a 60+ km operational radius. Both munitions can be deployed from multiple platforms, including UAVs, helicopters, land vehicles, and naval assets, providing flexibility in mixed operations.
The Akinci itself has a well-documented development history that reflects Türkiye’s broader push for autonomous strike capabilities. Initiated in 2018, the program leveraged cooperation with Ukraine for the AI-450T turboprop engines, enabling high-altitude performance above 39,000 feet and endurance of up to 24 hours. Since its public debut at Teknofest 2019, the Akinci has undergone progressive integration of a wide range of smart munitions, from KEMANKEŞ 1 to precision-guided bombs like the LGK-82. The Eren and Alpagut tests mark a significant expansion of its role beyond conventional air-to-ground operations toward dual-domain engagement.
From an operational perspective, the combination of Eren’s speed and multi-target profile with Alpagut’s endurance and swarm capability offers a versatility rarely matched by comparable systems. While many international loitering munitions are optimized for either endurance (such as Israel’s Harop) or speed (as seen in certain Western air-to-air intercept drones), the Akinci’s ability to deploy both profiles simultaneously from a single platform allows tailored engagement strategies. This duality not only complicates adversary defense planning but also enables mission-specific munition pairing in dynamic threat environments.
Strategically, this capability has significant implications for Türkiye’s military posture. In a region marked by evolving aerial threats, contested maritime zones, and layered air defenses, the integration of two distinct loitering munitions, one optimized for multirole rapid engagement and the other for persistent area denial, enhances the Akinci’s value as a flexible strike asset. Geopolitically, it strengthens Türkiye’s self-reliance in precision strike technologies and opens potential export opportunities in markets seeking adaptable unmanned systems. Militarily, the ability to strike both moving air targets and fortified ground positions from a single sortie could serve as a force multiplier in hybrid warfare scenarios.
By successfully demonstrating the launch of both Eren and Alpagut in a single test, Baykar and its partners Roketsan and STM have showcased a leap in unmanned aerial combat versatility. This achievement not only reinforces Türkiye’s position as a key player in the global drone industry but also signals the arrival of a new operational model where a single UCAV can carry and deploy munitions with complementary performance profiles, tailored for both immediate strike and prolonged loitering engagements.
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On August 7, 2025, Turkish defense manufacturer Baykar conducted a milestone test of its Bayraktar Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), as reported by Baykar. For the first time, the aircraft successfully launched two new domestically produced loitering munitions, the jet-powered multirole Eren and the propeller-driven Alpagut, in a single mission. The test, carried out over maritime targets off Sinop, underscores Türkiye’s drive to enhance its indigenous strike drone arsenal with systems capable of engaging both air and ground threats, reinforcing its position in the competitive loitering munitions market.
By successfully demonstrating the launch of both Eren and Alpagut in a single test, Baykar and its partners Roketsan and STM have showcased a leap in unmanned aerial combat versatility (Picture source: Baykar)
The Eren and Alpagut represent complementary capabilities integrated into the Akinci platform. Developed by Roketsan, the Eren is a high-speed, multirole loitering munition weighing 35 kg, powered by a turbojet engine, and boasting a 100 km range. It can engage both slow-moving airborne targets and a variety of surface threats using an IIR seeker. In contrast, the Alpagut, jointly developed by Roketsan and STM, uses an electrically driven propeller, carries an 11 kg warhead in multiple configurations, and offers more than 60 minutes of loiter time with a 60+ km operational radius. Both munitions can be deployed from multiple platforms, including UAVs, helicopters, land vehicles, and naval assets, providing flexibility in mixed operations.
The Akinci itself has a well-documented development history that reflects Türkiye’s broader push for autonomous strike capabilities. Initiated in 2018, the program leveraged cooperation with Ukraine for the AI-450T turboprop engines, enabling high-altitude performance above 39,000 feet and endurance of up to 24 hours. Since its public debut at Teknofest 2019, the Akinci has undergone progressive integration of a wide range of smart munitions, from KEMANKEŞ 1 to precision-guided bombs like the LGK-82. The Eren and Alpagut tests mark a significant expansion of its role beyond conventional air-to-ground operations toward dual-domain engagement.
From an operational perspective, the combination of Eren’s speed and multi-target profile with Alpagut’s endurance and swarm capability offers a versatility rarely matched by comparable systems. While many international loitering munitions are optimized for either endurance (such as Israel’s Harop) or speed (as seen in certain Western air-to-air intercept drones), the Akinci’s ability to deploy both profiles simultaneously from a single platform allows tailored engagement strategies. This duality not only complicates adversary defense planning but also enables mission-specific munition pairing in dynamic threat environments.
Strategically, this capability has significant implications for Türkiye’s military posture. In a region marked by evolving aerial threats, contested maritime zones, and layered air defenses, the integration of two distinct loitering munitions, one optimized for multirole rapid engagement and the other for persistent area denial, enhances the Akinci’s value as a flexible strike asset. Geopolitically, it strengthens Türkiye’s self-reliance in precision strike technologies and opens potential export opportunities in markets seeking adaptable unmanned systems. Militarily, the ability to strike both moving air targets and fortified ground positions from a single sortie could serve as a force multiplier in hybrid warfare scenarios.
By successfully demonstrating the launch of both Eren and Alpagut in a single test, Baykar and its partners Roketsan and STM have showcased a leap in unmanned aerial combat versatility. This achievement not only reinforces Türkiye’s position as a key player in the global drone industry but also signals the arrival of a new operational model where a single UCAV can carry and deploy munitions with complementary performance profiles, tailored for both immediate strike and prolonged loitering engagements.
