It is a fact that Turkey has upgraded its defense industry capabilities, with the development of a number of UAVs among its achievements.
Turkey Develops New Kamikaze Drone 'Azab'
Among them is now the hang-glider-shaped new kamikaze drone 'Azab', which has successfully passed flight tests, according to a Robit Technology executive.
"Turkish technology company Robit Technology has developed the said new multipurpose kamikaze drone, which has long-range flight capability," according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency, which notes:
"Firing tests of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are scheduled to take place in the near future.
"We have done all the flight tests. We are proceeding with ammunition tests. We will conduct ammunition tests in the coming months," Selcuk Firat, Robit Technology's product manager, told Anadolu.
Ammunition tests are expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter of this year, Firat said.
"We are ready for production. We will be able to meet future orders," he added.
Noting that different types of warheads can be incorporated into the Azab drone, Firat said it has two versions with wingspans of 2 meters (6.5 feet) and 1.5 meters (4.9 feet).
"Azab with a wingspan of 2 meters can carry a payload of up to 15 kilograms," he said.
The UAV has a communication range of 200 kilometers (124 miles) and destroys targets with GPS coordinates provided."
Mode of Operation-Testing Stages
Selcuk Fırat, who is the director of Robit Teknoloji UAV, said that the company, which has a history of 15 years, is mainly active in the field of information security and more recently, in the last 2 years, in the field of defense industry.
They can be programmed to be sent by the operator in advance by directing 5-10 Azab at targets, or directed at them by remote control.
Selçuk Fırat also gave information about the stage Azab has reached, saying that we are currently testing the trigger mechanism, we expect the ammunition tests to be completed by the middle of the year or by the third quarter of the year. We will be able to meet the next orders.
Noting that special ammunition can be produced for the Azab, as well as warheads, Selçuk Fırat said that anti-tank RPG ammunition can be integrated into the Azab very easily.
The Azab T200 has a catapult of about 6 meters and can be launched from a truck or container from a rocket system that is still operational.
Stating that they recommended "Azab" to the President of Defense Industries and received a positive response, Fırat said:
"The truth is that a UAV with these features is unique in its class in Turkey, and it has attracted attention abroad as well, after we contacted two countries this week. It will be a good product for both our exports and our military."
Noting that Azap versions are configured according to needs, Selçuk Fırat conveyed the following information about how to use them:
"We developed the Azab T150 for combat conditions. We grouped at least 3 of them and flew them, finding that it can hit any target at a distance of 100 km thanks to its camera
On the other hand, the Azab T200 is designed as a deterrent to protect the country's borders at long distances. It has a control range of up to 200 km, and after identifying it then moves towards its target, performing the desired dive. It can dive vertically or at an angle, while having the ability to self-destruct either by hitting the target or not."
In conclusion, we would say that Turkey will significantly increase its operational capabilities in the Aegean and Thrace with the imminent inclusion of Azab kamikaze drones in its Armed Forces.
