Turkish Drone Industry Gains Boost From Raisi Crash Site Mission

Turkey’s drone industry is set to benefit significantly after claims that one of its drones, the Bayraktar Akinci, played a crucial role in locating the site of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter crash. The drone, produced by Baykar—a company owned by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son-in-law—demonstrated its advanced capabilities in challenging conditions, including high altitude and mountainous terrain covered in heavy fog. Aviation expert Tolga Özbek praised the drone’s sophisticated camera, which can detect heat, making it ideal for search and rescue operations. While Baykar states that the Akinci drone is also capable of air-to-ground and air-to-air missions, its use in the Raisi crash site search showcased its versatility beyond military operations.

However, Iran later denied that the Turkish drone was responsible for finding the crash site, claiming that its own drones made the discovery. Despite this, analysts believe that Turkey’s membership in NATO has provided it with access to advanced Western technologies, giving Turkish drones a competitive edge over their Iranian counterparts. The mission also allowed Turkey to assist a US rival without straining relations with Washington, highlighting Turkey’s strategic position in global politics. For more insights and details on the implications of this development for Turkey’s drone industry, read the full article by Kristina Jovanovski.