Vestel Karayel
Vestel Karayel is a surveillance, reconnaissance and combat UAV/UCAV system developed for the Turkish Armed Forces by Vestel. On 28 May 2016, Vestel UCAV's images were published. On 16 June 2016, Vestel UCAV's MAM-L firing test videos were published.[1]
| Vestel Karayel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned aerial vehicle and Unmanned combat air vehicle |
| National origin | Turkey |
| Manufacturer | Vestel |
| Designer | Vestel Defence |
| First flight | 30.04.2014 |
| Introduction | 2013 |
| Primary user | Turkish Armed Forces United Arab Emirates Armed Forces Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia |
| Number built | 10+ |
Karayel is designed and manufactured in accordance with NATO ‘Airworthiness’ standard; STANAG 4671. Karayel system has novel triple redundant distributed avionics architecture which ensures protection against all kinds of uncontrolled crash. With this feature, systematic fault safety used only in manned aviation around the world until now, has been carried to an unmanned aerial vehicle for the first time with KARAYEL. The aerial vehicle has the ability to protect against lightning thanks to the aluminum network grid on its composite structure. ‘De-Icing System’ which automatically detects icing conditions and activates carries KARAYEL one step further in terms of operations in cold climates. KARAYEL, which is an aerial reconnaissance and surveillance platform, can perform target marking, lighting and ammunition direction by its laser sensors and day/night target detection and identification by its camera system which it carries as payload.[2]
Specifications
Data from Vestel Savunma[3][4]
General characteristics
- Crew: none on-board
- Length: 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan: 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in)
- Max takeoff weight: 550 kg (1,213 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × unspecified , 72 kW (97 hp)
- Propellers: single blade, 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 150 km/h (92 mph, 80 kn)
- Endurance: 20 hours
- Service ceiling: 6,900 m (22,500 ft)
Karayel-SU TUAV
Karayel-SU (SU; standing for Armed-Extended Wing) has a longer wingspan, as well as end-plates on its wing tips and two hardpoints for payload under each wing. Each one of the hardpoints can carry 30 kg, meaning that the total payload capacity of the Karayel-SU under its wings is 120 kg. The wing hardpoints can also be equipped with payloads other than munitions. The Karayel-SU also retains the ability to carry 50 kg EO/IR payload at the fuselage payload bay[5]
Technicial Specifications
- Engine Power 1 × 97 HP (Sea Level)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight : 630 kg
- Wing Span : 13 m
- Total Length : 6.5 m
- Height : 2.11 m
- Wing Useful Load : 120 kg
- Trunk Payload : 50 kg
- Flight Speed : 60-80 knots
- Rate of Climb : 800 m/s
- Operational Altitude 18.000 ft
- Data Link Range: >150 km
- Landing Distance : <750 m
- Airborne Time : 20 hours without ammunition, 12 hours with 60 kg load and 8 hours with 120kg loaded
- Navigation : Fully Autonomous or Manual, Day Camera (color) & IR Night Camera
- Useful Load : Laser Range Finder,Laser Pointer & Laser Target Marker
- Other Features ; Triple redundant avionic architecture,Fully autonomous take-off / flight / landing, Composite main structure.[6]
Operators
Saudi Arabia 46 Karayel UAVs over the next 5 years for the Saudi forces.[9][10][11]
Turkey 10 Karayel-SU TUAV with SATCOM On The Move Terminal[12][13]
United Arab Emirates[14] ~ unknown numbers[15]
Operational History
- On 31 December 2019, during the Saudi led intervention in Yemen, Houthis fighters announced their forces shot down Saudi drones, one in Razih district in Saada and another in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.[16] Later the Houthis published footage of the downing and recover of the remains of a Vestel Karayel drone.[17]
- On 6 January 2021, during the Saudi led intervention in Yemen, Houthi forces shot down a Vestel Karayel drone in Al-Jawf province.[18]
References
- Karayel UCAV MAM-L Firing Test - Vestel Defence Industry
- "TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY PRODUCT CATALOGUE". www.ssb.gov.tr. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- http://www.vestelsavunma.com/tr/urun-insansiz-hava-araci-sistemleri
- http://www.vestelsavunma.com/views/web/vestelsavunma/downloads/tr/urunler/KARAYELTacticalUAVeng-tr.pdf
- Opall-Rome, Barbara (15 November 2017). "Turkey's newest armed drone makes debut at Dubai Airshow". Defense News. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "VESTEL KARAYEL-SU İnsansız Hava Aracı". Millisavunma.com (in Turkish). 21 April 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- CTECH. "CTECH - DEV-KU-18 SATCOM On The Move Terminal". CTECH. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- CTECH. "CTECH - DEV-KA-12 SATCOM On The Move Terminal". CTECH. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "Turkish drones for Saudi Arabia". Pakistan Defence. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "Saudi Arabia to Produce Turkish SIHA From 2021". RayHaber | RaillyNews. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "28.4.2020 - Saudi contract for Turkey's Karayel tactical UAS". ABG Strategic Consulting. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- Editor, The. "Turkey's Vestel Tests Karayel UAS – UAS VISION". Retrieved 14 November 2020.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- "Military Knowledge: Karayel Drone". IWN. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "VESTEL SAVUNMA -". www.vestelsavunma.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "Turkish Company Vestel Showcasing Armed Variant of the Karayel Tactical UAV at High Tech Port | High Tech Port 2016 Online Show Daily News | Defence security military exhibition 2016 daily news category". www.armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- Yemen's Houthis say shot down 2 drones
- "Karayel UAV lost over Yemen". Jane's Information Group.
- "Chiến trường Yemen: Houthi bắn hạ UAV của Ả rập Xê út". khoahocdoisong.vn (in Vietnamese). 6 January 2021.