TAI Şimşek
| TAI Şimşek | |
|---|---|
TAI Şimşek, render image | |
| General information | |
| Type | Unmanned target drone |
| Manufacturer | Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) |
| Primary user | Turkish Armed Forces |
| History | |
| First flight | August 4, 2012 |
TAI Şimşek is a turbojet-powered radio-controlled high-speed target drone designed, developed and built by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) between 2009 and 2012 for the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces.
Şimşek is the Turkish word for "lightning".
Overview
Development started in 2009, and a prototype was presented to the public at the International Defence Industry Fair the same year.[1] The UAV made its maiden flight on August 4, 2012.[2]
Şimşek simulates enemy aircraft and missiles for air-to-air, surface-to-air, anti-aircraft gunnery and missile systems’ tracking and firing training.[3] It looks like tactical air-launched decoys (TALDs).[4]
TAI intends to further develop the drone into a cruise missile with "Human-in-the-Loop" (HITL) guidance capability for use against mobile or fixed soft targets.[4]
Payloads of TAI Şimşek consists of following features:[3]
- Passive Radar Cross-Section Augmenter (Luneburg lens)
- Passive IR Signature
- Miss Distance Indicator (MDI)
- Counter-measures Dispensing System
- Tracking Smoke Generator
The drone is launched from a catapult and recovered by parachute. It can take off and can be controlled from navy vessels.[3]
In July 2020 TAI launched Şimşek from TAI Anka integrated arm and made history by launching the target drone from UAV for the first time.[5][6]
Specifications
Data from Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 0
- Wingspan: 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 740 km/h (460 mph, 400 kn)
- Endurance: 60 min
- Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,800 ft)
Şimşek-K
Şimşek-K presents the next generation of Turkish aerial target drones. Introduces for the first time at the IDEF 2025 it has two goals, act as a fast-moving enemy aircraft for training and be used as a kamikaze (suicide) drone.[7][8] On 22 August 2025, the Şimşek-K successfully completed its first rocket-assisted (RATO) ground launch and hit a ground target with a warhead.[7]
Specifications
- Length: 2.4 m.[7]
- Wingspan: 1.5 m.[7]
- MTOW: ~83 kg.[7]
- Payload: up to 18 kg.[7]
- Max speed: Mach 0.63.[9]
- Data link range: 150 km.[9]
- Cruise missile range: 500+ km.[9]
Super Şimşek
Super Şimşek is a fast, advanced unmanned aircraft. It was first made as a target drone but has now been developed into a flexible aircraft for many missions. It is an improved version of the original Şimşek drone, designed and built by TUSAŞ for the Turkish Armed Forces.[10]
Specifications
- Max Speed: Approximately Mach 0.85–0.9 TURDEF.[11][10]
- Operational Ceiling: Around 35,000 ft TUSAŞ+1.[11][10]
- Link Range: Up to 150 km (Line of Sight).[11][10]
- Operational Range: Up to 700 km TUSAŞ+1TURDEF+2The Media Line+2.[11][10]
References
- ^ "TAI Şimşek İnsansız Hava Aracı" (in Turkish). Daily Motion. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
- ^ "Şimşek İlk Kez Havalandı". TRT Haber (in Turkish). 2012-08-09. Archived from the original on 2012-08-11. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
- ^ a b c d "Programs-UAV Systems-Target Drone Systems-Şimşek". TAI. Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
- ^ a b "An overview of Turkish UAV R&D and production-TAI Simsek high-speed target drone". TR Defence. 2010-11-21. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
- ^ "Türkiye 'Şimşek' ile dünyada bir ilke imza attı". www.trthaber.com (in Turkish). 14 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
- ^ "ŞİMŞEK target drone system integrated into ANKA UAV". English Defence News. 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
- ^ a b c d e f Nicanci. "Türkiye's TAI Debuts Şimşek-K Drone at IDEF 2025 Marking a New Phase in High-Speed Drone Training Capability". armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ Ozberk, Tayfun (2021-04-30). "Turkey converts Simsek training system into a kamikaze drone". Defense News. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ a b c "ŞİMŞEK-K with RATO Capability Hits Target with Warhead | TURDEF". turdef.com. 2025-08-23. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ a b c d e f "ANKA III Releases Super Şimşek in key test for OKU Concept | TURDEF". turdef.com. 2025-04-08. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ a b c d e "SÜPER ŞİMŞEK". 2025.
External links