Baykar completes at-sea flight test of Kalkan VTOL UAV
Latest flight test continues progression of the Kalkan.
Turkish manufacturer Baykar’s latest vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV has completed its first at-sea flight tests.
The Kalkan was deployed from the Turkish navy frigate TCG Gelibolu, which was operating with the Somali Sea Task Group in the Indian Ocean, Turkey’s Ministry of National Defence announced in a social media post on 24 October.
The ministry posted several photos of the tests but released no further details.
The Kalkan
The Kalkan UAV is specifically designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, designed by UAS specialist Baykar — the first Turkish company to manufacture an indigenous UAS.
Conducting the test during a task group operation aligns with Turkey’s initiative to bolster Somalia’s ability to protect its waters against piracy, illegal fishing and other maritime threats, due to the Kalkan’s primary design for ISR missions.
The Kalkan is capable of fully autonomous take-off, cruise and landing operations alongside semi-autonomous cruise missions. Electric motors provide power during vertical take-off and landing, switching to an internal combustion engine during forward flight.
The Kalkan has a 3kg payload capacity, configured for interchangeable electro-optical and infrared cameras alongside a laser rangefinder. Featuring a 5m wingspan, it delivers a maximum speed of 55kt (102km/h) with a 6h endurance.
Baykar officially delivered the Kalkan to the Turkish armed forces at a ceremony held aboard TCG Orucreis on 20 August 2026. Previously, Baykar conducted a successful demonstration of the Kalkan deploying a compact kamikaze FPV drone during a flight in November 2025.
Bayraktar Kalkan VTOL UAV released a compact FPV drone midair. Source: Baykar / TRT
As yet, Baykar has disclosed no operational or combat employment. However, given the company’s position as a leader in the global military UAS – Baykar achieved exports worth $2.2 billion in 2025 – international sales may soon follow.
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