https://baykardefence.com/haber-Turkeys-latest-armed-drone-Akinci-completes-first-test-flight.html
"On 6 December 2019, the Akıncı (Raider), an indigenous-developed High-Altitude Long-Endurance Unmanned Combat Aerial System (HALE-UCAS), successfully completed its first flight test, as Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar Savunma announced.
The Akıncı flew for sixteen minutes, after successfully completing fully-automatic taxi and take-off procedures. The UCAS also successfully performed its first fully-automatic landing at the end of the test which was executed from Çorlu air base in the Tekirdağ provice (Turkey).
The Bayraktar Akıncı is a 4,5 ton TİHA (Taarruzi İnsansız Hava Aracı - Assault UAS), capable of deploying a considerable payload (900 kg external and 450 kg internal). The Akıncı can also be equipped with an electronic support pod, an air-to-air radar, satellite communication systems, barrier-identification radar, synthetic aperture radar and meteorological radar which are all designed and developed in Turkey. The platform will operate with various ammunition configurations. The UCAS may be equipped with air-to-air missile systems domestically developed in Turkey and may be deployed in air-to-air missions, according to Baykar officials.
The Akıncı is expected to gain Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2020. It is also expected that the Türk Kara Havacilik Komutanlığı (TKHK, Turkish Army Aviation Command) will receive the Akıncı, since it is displayed on the patch of 3ncu Ordu Silahlı İnsansız Hava Araçları Tabur Komutanlığı (Armed Unmanned Aerial System Army Battalion Command).
Baykar Savunma is a Turkish drone manufacturer that also produces the Bayraktar TB2 that is currently operated by the Turkish Air Force, Army, Navy, Police and Gendarmerie. Four were exported to Ukraine in 2019. In late 2017, the Bayraktar TB2 gained Operational Capable status in the Turkish Army by 2nci Ordu Silahlı İnsansız Hava Araçları Tabur Komutanlığı which is assumed to be located at Batman.
This first flight follows the first flight of another indigenously developed UCAS, the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) Aksungur UAS that made its first flight on 20 March 2019. With these two drones it its arsenal, the Turkish Armed Forces get a huge boost in its capabilities.
Video of the first fligh