Baykar’s Kemankeş 1 Mini Cruise Missile Completes Maximum Flight and Dive Test

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Baykar announced that its Kemankeş 1 AI-powered miniature air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) successfully completed its maximum flight and dive test on March 23, 2025. The test involved two missiles launched from a Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) at the company’s Flight Training and Test Center in Keşan, Edirne.

According to Baykar, the missiles were released from the TB2 and flew more than 100 kilometers toward their designated targets before landing safely via parachute. This test marks a significant milestone in the ongoing development of the Kemankeş family of AI-powered mini cruise missiles.

Kemankeş 1 Overview

The Kemankeş 1 is designed to be integrated with Baykar’s indigenous unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) platforms, including the Bayraktar AKINCI, Bayraktar TB2, and Bayraktar TB3.

The miniature ALCM features an endurance of approximately one hour and a mission range exceeding 200 kilometers. 

Equipped with an AI-supported electro-optical guidance system, the Kemankeş 1 can identify and neutralize targets with precision even in challenging weather conditions. 

It also incorporates an AI-supported autopilot system for autonomous flight operations and anti-jamming technology that enables mission execution despite electronic interference.

The system maintains full line-of-sight communication with its host platform, transmitting collected data and imagery to the ground control station.

Background on the Kemankeş 1

Baykar first unveiled the Kemankeş 1 during TEKNOFEST 2023, held at Atatürk Airport from April 27 to May 1, 2023. The name “Kemankeş” draws inspiration from master archers in Turkish history known for their precision in hitting targets under challenging conditions.

The mini cruise missile is part of Baykar’s expanding portfolio of indigenous defense technologies. The company has developed all its projects using its own resources and has established itself as a leading exporter in Turkey’s defense sector.

A Strong Export Offering

Baykar has generated 83% of its total revenue from exports since beginning its UAV R&D journey in 2003. The company achieved $1.8 billion in exports in both 2023 and 2024, with international sales accounting for 90% of its revenue in 2024.

The Kemankeş 1 potentially adds another highly exportable product to Baykar’s growing catalog of unmanned systems and associated munitions.

Notes and Comments

Baykar Technologies is systematically transforming unmanned aerial systems from auxiliary assets into central platforms for military operations. 

Through strategic innovations across multiple tiers, the company has created a comprehensive ecosystem that addresses various operational domains, from the carrier-compatible TB3 enabling naval power projection to the Akıncı’s long-range strike capabilities to the Kizilelma potentially taking on fighter roles.

Key technological enablers support this vision, including advanced munitions integration like the recently tested Kemankeş 1 AI-powered mini cruise missile, sophisticated multi-platform coordination demonstrated by TB2-TB3 cooperative targeting, and increasing incorporation of artificial intelligence for autonomous operations.

The strategic implications of Baykar’s approach include significant force multiplication through relatively lower-cost unmanned platforms, creation of asymmetric advantages against conventional defense systems, and enhanced expeditionary flexibility through carrier-capable drones.

With export agreements spanning 36 countries, Baykar’s vision for drone-centric warfare is gaining global traction, representing a potential shift that goes beyond technological evolution, but a widespread rethinking of combat operations among many militaries as they adopt these solutions.

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