Turkey’s latest weapon has multiple operational capabilities, even US, Russia, and China don’t have anything like this; it is…
New Delhi: The past 20-odd years have seen the emergence of new countries that develop and produce the most advanced weapons, which can compete, even beat, the best in the market. These new weapon-producing countries have broken the myth of the technical superiority of the US-led West.
Who are the new powers that are creating noise after the Cold War?
The new weapon-producing countries that have joined the league of the US-led West include India, China, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, Japan, and Turkey. The new world order is not unipolar; it has become an open market.
Nevertheless, the achievements of the pre-Cold War era cannot be shunned. The Soviet Union, in the 1960s, shocked the USA and the Western world with the Caspian Sea Monster, a massive, winged ship that simply glided above the water’s surface, hidden from radar.
The Soviet Union was a formidable power, a perfect foil to the USA and its allies, NATO. The power balance was maintained in equal halves.
What is Turkey’s TALAY drone that has made news worldwide?
Turkey has been constantly introducing some of the most powerful and cutting-edge weapons. Its latest weapon is very similar to the Soviet Union’s Caspian Sea Monster.
This Turkish product is TALAY, said to be the world’s first sea-skimming multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicle designed for low-altitude maritime missions. It is capable of stealth operations at just 30 cm above sea level.
Talay’s ability to fly so low to the surface of the water is almost an unprecedented feature. It uses the ‘wing-in-ground’ (WIG) effect, where the surface provides a cushion of air that increases lift and efficiency. This allows it to fly at very low altitudes above the sea, making it very difficult to detect by conventional naval radar systems.
What are the features of the TALAY drone?
The TALAY drone has been described as “A drone that hides below radar”. It is developed by the Ankara-based company Solid Aero. It is not just another addition to the arsenal of unmanned vehicles but represents a significant leap in technological advancement.
TALAY is capable of operating under challenging conditions and can carry a payload of up to 66 pounds. Unlike traditional UAVs that operate high above the surface, TALAY can just glide over the sea from 30 cm to 100 m, without being detected by radars.
According to Solid Aero’s webpage, “this cutting-edge craft is production-ready and the first of its kind. It blends the stealth of a low-flying drone with the aerodynamic efficiency of a Wing-in-Ground (WIG) effect vehicle, creating a new category of maritime strike and reconnaissance platforms”.
TALAY’s design for maritime and coastal missions makes it a killer and a valuable asset for naval operations. It has a wingspan of 9.84 feet and a total length of 9.19 feet. This makes the drone a compact yet powerful tool. Its low radar cross-section and stealth-focused design allow it to evade enemy detection and perform precise missions with high accuracy.
Its foldable wings allow for quick deployment.
What is the range and firepower of TALAY?
TALAY can carry up to 66 pounds (30 kg) of payload, advanced sensors or munitions comparable to smaller conventional anti-ship missiles. It is powered by an electric engine and Li-Po battery. TALAY’s endurance is about 3 hours, with an operational range of up to 200 km, a maximum take-off weight is 60 kg (132 lbs), and flight modes are functional during day and night.
TALAY’s operational capabilities include Normal Attack, Top Attack, and Harbor Attack. The system uses a next-generation flight control unit with model-based and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered software.
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