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BAHA sub-cloud unmanned aerial vehicles have officially entered service with the Turkish Armed Forces after completing acceptance procedures and inspection.
The new drones, developed by HAVELSAN, will be procured in various quantities by the Land Forces Command after originally being conceptualised in 2021, according to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense.
The BAHA drones have a four-metre wingspan, 28-kilogram maximum take-off weight, data link range of up to 50km, cruise speed of 80km/h, endurance of up to two hours and ceiling altitude of 10,000 feet.
The systems are capable of vertical take-off and landing, day and night surveillance, autonomous return and landing, operation in jammed environments and joint operations capability with other unmanned systems.
“With our domestically developed defence industry products, which aim to enhance our national and international power and influence, the capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces continue to grow day by day,” said Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk, speaking to the Ministry of National Defense weekly press briefing about Turkish indigenous defence industry products.
“In this context, inspection and acceptance procedures for the Sub-Cloud Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (BAHA) procured by the Land Forces Command have been completed and the systems have been inducted into our inventory.”
The systems have already been deployed beyond military operations, with BAHA designated during a disaster and earthquake drill coordinated by AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority) for rubble reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
