Turkish Aerospace Industries is planning a major capability increase for its AKSUNGUR unmanned aircraft, targeting a payload rise from 750 kg to 1,250 kg and endurance of about 60 hours. Mehmet Demiroğlu, the company’s general manager, tied the upgrade to naval requirements during TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland coverage in Turkey.
The proposed step would expand AKSUNGUR’s role in maritime patrol, surveillance and anti-submarine warfare, while preserving the aircraft’s long-endurance profile. Demiroğlu linked the work to user demand and referred to integration efforts for sonobuoys, torpedoes and different radar types. The figures described were presented as goals for a newer version rather than a completed delivery or contract.
Published specifications still place AKSUNGUR at 750-plus kg payload capacity and up to 50 hours of endurance, so the new targets would represent a substantial increase over the baseline already in service. If achieved, the change would move the platform closer to heavier long-range unmanned missions and give operators greater flexibility across naval and intelligence roles.