Karayel
Owned By
| Operator: | Turkey |
| Status: | In Development |
| Number: | 6 |
| Cost: | |
| Acquired: | Jul-14 |
| General Specs | |
| Country of origin: | Turkey |
| Role: | Unarmed reconnaissance |
| Manufacturer: | Vestel Defence Industry |
| Introduced: | 2007 |
| Take-Off: | Runway or launcher |
| Landing: | Runway or parachute |
| Power plant: | 70 Hp Mutual (Opposed Cylinders) |
| Thrust: | |
| Wingspan: | 34.45 ft (10.5 m) |
| Length: | 21.33 ft (6.5 m) |
| Height: | |
| Weight: | |
| Maximum takeoff weight: | 1102.31 lbs (500 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity: | |
| Speed: | 69-92 mph |
| Ceiling: | 22,500 ft (6858 m) |
| Endurance: | > 20 hours |
| Range: | 93.2 miles (150 km) |
| Operators: | Fully autonomous or manual |
| Armament: | None |
| Radar/Sensors: | Electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors |
| Countermeasures/Defenses: | |
| Misc Systems: | Laser rangefinder and pointer devices |
Sources:
- “Karayel UAV.” Vestel Defence Industry. N.p., 2012. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
- Williams, Huw. “IDEF 2013: Karayel UAS Readies for Service.” IHS Jane’s 360. N.p., 7 May 2013. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
- Soncan, Emre. “US Blocks Company from Exporting UAV Tech to Turkey.” Today’s Zaman. N.p., 4 Dec. 2013. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
Vestel’s Karayel UAV Goes Operational in Turkey
Vestel’s Karayel unmannned aircraft system (UAS) has commenced operations in an undisclosed area of Turkey, IHS Jane’s has learned. Speaking at the UMEX 2016 exhibition and conference in Abu Dhabi, Vestel’s Süha Özgür Diner, deputy general manager of air platforms, said the company is providing a full turnkey solution in support of Turkish Land Forces […]
Turkish Tactical UAV Makes Longest Endurance Flight
Turkey’s Karayel tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), produced by Ankara-based Vestel Defence Industry, achieved its longest endurance flight of 10 hours and 50 minutes during a navy exercise code-named ‘Sea Wolf’ that began on 14 May. Vestel also noted in a statement on 17 May that the Karayel “has become the first Turkish tactical UAV […]
Turkish Drone Passes Flight Test with Payload
A locally-developed Turkish drone passed a critical flight test, flying with an electro-optical camera and a total payload of 51 kilograms, officials from the drone’s manufacturer said. Officials with privately-owned firm Vestek Savunma said the Karayel drone is ready to enter the Turkish military’s inventory. Vestel has been developing the tactical done since 2005, investing […]
First Karayel Set for July Delivery
Vestel will shortly deliver the first of its Karayel unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) to the Turkish Land Forces. Speaking to IHS Jane’s , Vestel engineers Emrah iek and Hüseyin Aktan said that one air vehicle and a ground control station (GCS) will be handed over in July. On 30 April Vestel completed the first test flight of […]
Turkey’s Unmanned Ambitions Shift Up Gear
Shortly before parliamentary elections in 2011, several election campaign billboards of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) featured blue skies with unidentified aircraft, accompanied with the slogan: “Our aircraft is in the skies!” “Our aircraft” was not in the skies by then, but was crash-landing during a series of flight tests. And “our aircraft” […]
Turkey’s Karayel Tactical UAV in Flight Test Milestone
Turkish firm Vestel Savunma Sanayi has completed the first test flight of its production-standard Karayel tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Vestel is to deliver six Karayel UAVs, three ground control stations and auxiliary systems to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) once test flights are completed, the privately-owned company said on 6 May. The Karayel is […]