Military drone turned into mid-air launch platform for strike UAVs

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has demonstrated a novel military drone concept by converting its Aksungur Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV into a mid-air launch platform for smaller strike UAVs. In a recent showcase, the Aksungur carried two Super Simsek multi-role drones under its wings, departing from the traditional role of drones carrying missiles. This innovation allows the Aksungur to act as a carrier for deploying smaller unmanned aerial vehicles, potentially transforming modern warfare by enabling a broader ecosystem where multiple host drones can launch the same air-launched UAVs. The current tests focus on carriage and flight performance, with live-release trials anticipated in the future. The Aksungur UAV, powered by two PD-170 twin-turbocharged diesel engines, boasts long endurance capabilities—up to 41 hours and operational ceilings of 40,000 feet—with a 1-ton payload capacity. Besides military ISR and strike missions, it is also employed in civilian