Baykar’s AI-powered KEMANKEŞ 1 missile hits ground targets in precision test

KEMANKEŞ 1, the AI-based mini cruise missile developed indigenously by Baykar, successfully destroyed ground targets in recent testing, the company announced. According to Baykar, their high-tech AI-powered unmanned systems continue to pass critical tests. Last week, KEMANKEŞ 1, fired for the first time from the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV, successfully completed an air target destruction mission under challenging conditions. In a follow-up test conducted yesterday, the missile hit ground targets with pinpoint accuracy. During the test, Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV took off carrying two KEMANKEŞ 1 missiles, coordinated by flight training and test centers in Çorlu and Keşan. The missile's cruise, dive, and firing capabilities were once again evaluated, with KEMANKEŞ 1 striking designated ground targets with full precision using Baykar's AI-assisted targeting system. A Bayraktar TB2 drone captured footage of the successful test. First unveiled to the public at TEKNOFEST 2023, KEMANKEŞ 1 is designed to engage strategic targets and is named after historical Turkish archers known for their deadly accuracy. It will be integrated into Bayraktar AKINCI, TB2, and TB3 platforms. Powered by a jet engine, KEMANKEŞ 1 can operate for over 30 minutes in the air and reach high-risk targets deep behind enemy lines. It has a range of over 200 kilometers and features an AI-assisted optical guidance system that enables precise targeting even in harsh weather. Equipped with an AI autopilot, it can autonomously navigate and strike strategic targets with high precision, changing the dynamics on the battlefield. KEMANKEŞ 1 can operate day or night and features anti-jamming technology, enabling it to resist electronic interference. It communicates with its host platform in real time, sending all data and visuals to the ground control station for monitoring. Baykar, which has funded all its projects with internal resources, has earned 83% of its revenue from exports since beginning UAV R&D in 2003. In 2023, it achieved $1.8 billion in exports, ranking among Türkiye's top 10 exporters across all industries. In 2024, Baykar again earned $1.8 billion from exports, making up 90% of its total revenue and maintaining its global leadership in the UAV export market. Baykar received the 'Export Champion Award' for being among the top 10 exporters in all Turkish industries in 2023 and 2024. According to the Presidency of Defense Industries and the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), Baykar was the top exporter in the defense and aerospace sector in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. It accounted for one-third of the sector's total exports in 2023 and a quarter in 2024, cementing its leadership in the global UAV market. Baykar has signed export agreements with 35 countries for Bayraktar TB2 and with 15 countries for Bayraktar AKINCI.