Baykar Defense specialists are working on making the UAV Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı able to use air-to-air missiles to combat Iranian kamikaze drones, according to Daily Sabah.

“Soon our Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncıs will have air-to-air missiles; not only to engage drones but other enemy aircraft… we are conducting our tests,” Haluk Bayraktar said during a defense fair in Istanbul.

In addition, Mr. Bayraktar once again confirmed that “we fully support Ukraine to defend its sovereignty.” Regarding the possibility of hunting down Iranian kamikaze drones, according to Haluk Bayraktar, “kamikazes are slow, noisy and operate at low altitude, making them ‘easy targets’ [for Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı air-to-air missiles].”

It was during the SAHA Expo that a contract was signed between the Turkish rocket company Roketsan and Baykar to integrate the Sungur anti-aircraft missile with UAVs to combat enemy drones.

“Sungur is a proven ammunition, especially against moving targets such as helicopters and drones. Using it from our unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as an air-to-air missile will be a game change,” Roketsan general manager Murat Ikinci said at the fair.

Sungur MANPADS which uses the Portatif Savunma (PorSav) missile, was adopted by the Turkish army in 2020. It is almost a complete analogue of the Stinger, except for the guidance system. The PorSav has an in-house Imager Infrared (IIR) homing head instead of the Stinger’s IR Seeker Head. Apparently, the Turkish version is more resistant to traditional obstacles. Aviation platforms have already been added to the platforms from which Sungur can be used on the manufacturer’s website.

Specifications of MANPADS Sungur
Range – 0.5–8 km
Target altitude – up to 4 km
Types of targets – airplanes, helicopters, UAVs
Warhead – with semi-armor-piercing striking elements and a programmable detonator
Guidance – Imager Infrared (IIR)