Fighters aligned with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have claimed shooting down Turkish cutting-edge Bayraktar AKINCI advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Iraq.
Footage of the interception was shared online by PKK workers. The incident occurred near the Iranian border in the Qandil region of Iraqi Kurdistan. The PKK workers asserted that the UAV belonged to Türkiye, a claim that Ankara has dismissed.
In a statement, the People’s Defense Forces (HPG), the armed wing of the PKK, said, “At 7:20 pm on March 16, 2025, an unmanned drone of the Bayraktar AKINCI type, which was flying high overhead over Qandil, that the Turkish state thought could not be shot down, was shot down.”
This incident marks the first violation of the ceasefire agreement between Türkiye and the PKK, which was declared on March 1, 2025. The ceasefire, announced after a historic call by the PKK’s jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan, aimed to end over four decades of armed conflict.
Türkiye has relied extensively on the Bayraktar AKINCI for operations targeting PKK positions in Iraq and Syria. The AKINCI, considered one of Türkiye’s most advanced combat drones, boasts high-altitude endurance and a significant payload capacity. However, this incident highlights key vulnerabilities in its operational survivability.
Reports suggest that the drone was likely brought down using an Iranian-made ‘358’ anti-aircraft missile, a weapon specifically designed to target drones. Unlike traditional air-defense systems, which rely on radar, the ‘358’ missile employs an infrared seeker to lock onto heat-emitting targets.
These missiles first surfaced in Iraq in 2021, near the U.S. Al-Harir air base. By mid-2024, intelligence reports indicated that Iran had been supplying the PKK with these weapons to counter Turkish air operations.
The Bayraktar AKINCI previously gained international recognition for its role in locating the wreckage of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi after it crashed on May 19, 2024, in Iran’s mountainous northwest. Equipped with advanced surveillance technology, the drone detected a heat signature that led to the discovery of the wreckage.
This is not the first time an AKINCI has been lost in combat. In January 2025, another AKINCI drone reportedly crashed in Libya, with its wreckage found near Agilata, between Tripoli and the Tunisian border.
Despite its advanced features, these recent shootdowns raise serious questions about the drone’s reliability in hostile environments where adversaries possess modern air-defense capabilities.
What Is The AKINCI UAV?
The Bayraktar Akinci was unveiled to the public at the Teknofest Aviation, Space, and Technology Festival, held at Istanbul Atatürk Airport in Turkey, in September 2019. Designed as a strategic asset, the Akinci executes intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions and precision strikes.
With a maximum takeoff weight of 6,000 kg and a payload capacity of 1,500 kg—400 kg internal and 950 kg external—it is built for complex missions.
The Akinci operates at an altitude of 30,000 feet, with a service ceiling of 40,000 feet and an endurance of over 24 hours. It has a 20-meter wingspan and is powered by two turboprop engines, each ranging between 450 hp and 950 hp, with an approximate range of 6,000 km.
Its advanced sensor suite includes synthetic aperture radar and electronic warfare systems, and its ability to carry a diverse range of guided munitions makes it one of Turkey’s most sophisticated UAVs. Its substantial payload and extended operational range suit it for various combat scenarios.
Baykar Technologies developed the AKINCI as part of Türkiye’s broader strategy to establish itself as a leader in drone warfare. The UAV completed its first flight in 2019 and officially entered service with the Turkish Armed Forces in 2021. Since then, it has been deployed in conflict zones such as Syria, Iraq, and Libya, where it has been used for aerial support, reconnaissance, and precision strikes.
The AKINCI builds on the success of the Bayraktar TB2, a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV that gained international recognition for its ability to target advanced air defense systems.
During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, Azerbaijan utilized the TB2 to neutralize Armenian military assets, including air defense systems, armored vehicles, and artillery positions.
In Ukraine, the TB2 has been employed against Russian forces, targeting tanks, supply convoys, and anti-aircraft systems like the Pantsir-S1. Its ability to deliver guided munitions with high accuracy has made it a valuable asset in modern warfare scenarios.
Compared to the hugely successful TB2, the Akinci has a larger payload capacity, improved sensors and radar systems, artificial intelligence-driven autonomy, satellite communication, extended endurance, and compatibility with a wider range of weapons. These upgrades allow it to execute more complex missions beyond the TB2’s operational scope.
In 2019, a report by The Guardian alleged that the Bayraktar TB2 was armed using the UK-developed Hornet micro-munitions bomb rack manufactured by EDO MBM Technology Ltd. The system was supplied to Turkiye in 2015 and later adapted for the UAV through collaboration between EDO MBM and Roketsan.
However, Selçuk Bayraktar, Chief of Baykar Technologies, denied this claim, stating the bomb rack was neither procured from the UK nor functional.
Growing Demand & Exports
Ankara actively promotes the AKINCI for international exports. It has also captured the interest of international buyers, further establishing its reputation on the global stage.
Pakistan was among the first countries to integrate the AKINCI into its arsenal. It received the drones in April 2023 after extensive training programs conducted by Baykar Technologies.
Other countries that have acquired the AKINCI include Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and the United Arab Emirates, showcasing its growing international demand.
Saudi Arabia signed a US$3 billion agreement with Turkiye to procure and locally produce the AKINCI drones, marking the largest defense export deal in Turkish history. Most recently, in March 2025, Somalia acquired the AKINCI drones to enhance its counter-terrorism operations against the Islamist insurgent group Al-Shabaab.
Not Without Vulnerabilities
The Bayraktar AKINCI, despite being an advanced unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), has shown vulnerabilities in contested environments.
The Qandil shootdown and the Libya crash collectively highlight that the Bayraktar AKINCI is far from invulnerable. In contested airspaces, adversaries equipped with even modest anti-aircraft systems or electronic warfare tools can pose significant challenges.
The drone’s reliance on satellite communication for extended-range missions makes it particularly susceptible to jamming or disruption. Furthermore, its relatively low speed and lack of stealth features make it an easier target for advanced air defense systems, exposing its limitations in heavily fortified environments.
Similarly, its predecessor, Bayraktar TB2, initially gained prominence for its effectiveness during conflicts like the early stages of the Ukraine war in 2022. It was celebrated for its precision strikes on Russian convoys and artillery. However, its vulnerabilities became apparent over time as Russian forces adapted their air defense strategies.
Military analyst Samuel Bendett, an expert in unmanned and autonomous systems, observed that Russia enhanced the coordination and deployment of its electronic warfare and air defenses in response to the significant battlefield losses inflicted by Ukraine using TB2 drones.
Reports indicate that Ukrainian forces shifted to using smaller, more cost-effective drones for reconnaissance and strikes as the TB2 became too vulnerable to operate in heavily contested airspace. Numerous TB2s were reportedly shot down, and their role was reduced to lower-risk operations.
These incidents highlight the challenges of deploying advanced UAVs in asymmetrical warfare, where resistance groups often adapt quickly to exploit vulnerabilities. While the AKINCI remains a critical asset for Türkiye and its partners, its recent operational setbacks highlight the need for continuous advancements in drone warfare technology.
- Penned By: Mohd. Asif Khan, ET Desk
- Mail us at: editor (at) eurasiantimes.com
