ISTANBUL, TURKEY – In a groundbreaking achievement, Turkey’s latest unmanned combat aircraft, Bayraktar Akıncı, has successfully completed a close formation flight, marking a significant milestone in the country’s defense capabilities.
On December 29, 2022, two Bayraktar Akıncı drones, PT3 and PT5, simultaneously took to the skies at the Akıncı Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Turkey. Without any human intervention, the drones flew in tandem, maintaining a precise formation while navigating through the air.
The success of this mission is attributed to the Smart Flight Autonomy Algorithm developed by Baykar, a Turkish defense company. This algorithm enabled the drones to autonomously adjust their positions and maintain a precise distance from each other, achieving a level of coordination previously thought to be exclusive to human pilots.
This achievement is a testament to Turkey’s growing defense capabilities and its commitment to developing autonomous systems. The success of this mission has significant implications for future air operations, where complex missions requiring high levels of precision, speed, and coordination can be executed by unmanned platforms.
The Turkish defense industry has made significant strides in recent years, with Baykar’s drones playing a crucial role in various military operations. The company’s autonomous systems have been used in Syria, Libya, and Ukraine, among other conflict zones.
The success of the Bayraktar Akıncı drones in completing a close formation flight has sparked interest globally, with many experts hailing it as a significant breakthrough in autonomous systems development. This achievement is expected to pave the way for future multi-vehicle autonomous operations, where multiple unmanned platforms can work together under a single command to execute complex missions.
Baykar’s Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar hailed the achievement as a testament to Turkey’s growing defense capabilities, stating that the country is no longer just a follower but a trailblazer in autonomous systems development.
The success of the Bayraktar Akıncı drones has sent shockwaves across the defense industry, with many countries taking notice of Turkey’s growing capabilities. As the world becomes increasingly dependent on autonomous systems, Turkey’s achievement serves as a reminder of the country’s commitment to innovation and defense excellence.

