ANKARA
Research and development team of Middle East Technical University (METU) in Turkish capital of Ankara has manufactured a Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle which flies autonomously, is not caught by radar, has the range of 150 kilometres and carries 25 kilograms.
Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering Department lecturer at the METU, Professor Dr. Nafiz Alemdaroglu introduced and explained to AA that the research for developing technologies of the unmanned air vehicle took start in 2004 in their department with the support of State Planning Organization (DPT).
Alemdaroglu stated that in the framework of developing unmanned air vehicles, they held projects for three years and in that period of time, they did not just develop unmanned air vehicles but also developed projects over improving liquid fuel engines.
Alemdaroglu also added that in the scope of producing such technologies, they set up a centre and at first they manufactured an unmanned aircraft which can land on its chest and fly autonomously for 10 kilometres.
He stressed that within the scope of same project, they finalized their project of tactical unmanned air vehicle and completed the last test flight.
He explained that the tactical unmanned air vehicle carries 25 kilograms of useful load, goes for 150 kilometres, stays for 6 hours up in the air autonomously.
He noted that the tactical unmanned air vehicle does not require a long runway for taking off and said that all parts of the vehicle are produced in Turkey.
Reporting by Selma Kasap
