By Horn Africa News
Ankara – President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has paid a high-profile visit to the headquarters of Bayraktar, Turkey’s leading aerospace and defense company, as Somalia officially receives new cutting-edge military drones to boost its national defense capabilities.
President Hassan Sheikh was warmly welcomed by Selçuk Bayraktar, the chief technology officer of Baykar, the company behind the production of the advanced Akıncı drones—among the most sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the world.
Somalia recently acquired the Bayraktar Akıncı, a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAV capable of performing precision strikes, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare missions. The Akıncı, powered by two turboprop engines, can reach altitudes of up to 38,039 feet and remain airborne for over 25 hours, covering distances of up to 7,507 kilometers.
Armed with an array of guided munitions including MAM-L, MAM-C, Cirit, KGK-MK82, and SOM-A missiles, the Akıncı can strike with extreme accuracy. The drone is also equipped with state-of-the-art artificial intelligence systems that allow it to make decisions based on real-time data gathered from its onboard sensors.
Military analysts highlight several key advantages Somalia gains from this acquisition:
1. Strategic Air Superiority: The Akıncı significantly enhances Somalia’s aerial power, giving the national army a technological edge over insurgent groups like Al-Shabaab.
2. Nationwide Coverage: Thanks to its extended range, the drone can reach any part of Somalia within an hour, enabling rapid military response to threats across the country.
3. Intelligence Dominance: With advanced surveillance capabilities, Akıncı supports special operations targeting high-ranking militant figures.
4. Airspace Defense: The drones enable Somalia to monitor and protect its airspace from any unauthorized aircraft.
5. Search and Recon Missions: In addition to combat roles, the Akıncı can carry out extensive reconnaissance and search operations.
6. High-Impact Operations: Military sources believe that, with proper intelligence and missile support, these drones could dismantle militant bases in less than four months.
7. Operational Flexibility: The drones can support missions from any region of Somalia, given their ability to cover distances of 277 to 361 km per hour.
This is not Somalia’s first experience with Turkish UAVs. The Somali army already operates Bayraktar TB2 drones, which have been instrumental in past security operations. However, the arrival of the Akıncı represents a significant leap in both technology and strategic military capability.
During his tour of the Bayraktar facility, President Hassan Sheikh reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to strengthening its national defense and praised Turkey for its continued military and technological support.
The delivery of the Akıncı drones is expected to play a pivotal role in Somalia’s efforts to restore security and reclaim territory from extremist groups. Somali Air Force units are already operating some of these drones, signaling a new era of aerial warfare and intelligence gathering in the Horn of Africa.
