Turkish drone named ‘Akinci’ has emerged as a crucial player in identifying the wreckage of the helicopter that carried the Iranian President, Ibrahim Raisi, and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian.
The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Pir Hossein Kolivand, confirmed that 73 teams were participating in the rescue operation. The Turkish drone, Akinci, played a vital role in identifying two hotspots where the helicopter crash likely occurred.
Turkey’s High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, the ‘Akinci,’ facilitated the pinpointing of the crash site, aided by its thermal imaging capabilities due to the high temperatures in the area.
The Akinci drone, manufactured by Turkish Defense Forces’ Baykar, was first introduced in August 2021 and integrated into the Turkish Armed Forces. It is equipped with two turbo-prop engines ranging from 450 to 750 horsepower, along with electronic and ECM systems support.
Featuring dual satellite communication systems, air-to-air radar, collision avoidance radar, and advanced synthetic aperture radar, the Akinci drone showcases a sophisticated array of technology.
On another front, Turkey successfully utilized the Akinci drone for the first time to track down members of the PKK terrorist organization seeking refuge in the caves and mountainous regions of northern Iraq.