TAI Şimşek
Turkish target drone
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 / Süper Şimşek | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Unmanned target drone |
| Manufacturer | Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) |
| Primary user | Turkish Armed Forces |
| History | |
| First flight | August 4, 2012 |
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
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]
