Algeria is first export customer for Aksungur UCAS
The Force Aérienne Algérienne (Algerian Air Force) is the first export customer to have ordered the TUSAS (TAI - Turkish Aerospace Industries) Aksungur Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Combat Aerial System (UCAS).
According to the information released on 8 October 2022, the Algerian Air Force ordered six Aksungur UCAS. It has not been reported if the UCAS will also be armed.
The Aksungur is the manufacturer's largest drone with a length of 12 metres, a wingspan of 24 metres and a max. take-off weight of 3,300 kilo. It is powered by two TEI PD170 4-cylinder liquid-cooled turbo-charged horizontally-opposed piston engines of 130–160 kW (170–220 hp) each which enable the aircraft to fly for 50 hours without armament.
The UCAS can carry up to 750kg of payload and is capable of long-endurance multi-role intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and attack missions at an altitude of up to 40.000 feet. It can operate beyond the line of sight due to its satellite communication capabilities.
Last year, the Türk Deniz Hava Komutanlığı (Turkish Navy Aviation Command) received their first Aksungur. Scramble Magazine reported on this delivery on 21 October 2021.
Photo (just illustrative) by Turkish Aerospace Industries