Baykar Bayraktar KALKAN

Lore & Background

The Bayraktar KALKAN project was launched in 2019, with subsequent flight tests commencing thereafter. As of 7 April 2024, it had achieved a total of 30 flight tests. In early 2025, Baykar announced that they had successfully launched an FPV drone, called 'Skydagger', from the aircraft mid-air, demonstrating its 'mothership' capability. The integration of the Kalkan VTOL into the Turkish Armed Forces inventory took place aboard a frigate during the Teknofest 'Mavi Vatan' (literally: Blue Homeland) event held in Gölcük Naval Shipyard, Turkey on 20 August 2026. The system was initially intended to be used in the drone-carrying Landing helicopter dock TCG Anadolu.

Reader's Guide

The Bayraktar KALKAN represents a versatile and flexible VTOL platform tailored for intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance missions. Its fully autonomous vertical take-off and landing capability eliminates the need for a runway, using four electric motors during take-off and an internal combustion engine with low fuel consumption for cruise flight. The advanced flight control system enables autonomous route following, object tracking, loitering, and return-to-home functions with high precision and reliability. The system's triple redundant flight control system and laser distance meter further enhance its operational robustness. The successful mid-air launch of an FPV drone in early 2025 demonstrated a novel 'mothership' capability, expanding its potential roles. The integration into the Turkish Armed Forces aboard a frigate in August 2026 underscores its naval applicability, while its initial intended deployment on the TCG Anadolu highlights its strategic relevance for drone-carrying naval operations. The conflicting endurance figures—6 hours versus 70 hours according to another source—remain unresolved.

Did You Know?

• It achieved a total of 30 flight tests as of 7 April 2024.
• The system was integrated into the Turkish Armed Forces aboard a frigate on 20 August 2026.