“Turkish Ground Troops Embrace the Revolutionary BAHA Drone for Enhanced Combat Readiness!”

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense has disclosed that the Sub-Cloud Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) BAHA, which was acquired in varied quantities by the Land Forces Command, has successfully accomplished its assessment and acceptance procedures and has officially been integrated into the arsenal of the Turkish Armed Forces.

Conceived by HAVELSAN and incorporated into the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory in 2024, BAHA represents a monumental milestone in the progression of Digital Troops, initially conceptualized in 2021. Following the previous incorporation of BARKAN, the inaugural unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) of the Digital Troops, BAHA’s deployment significantly enhances the Turkish military’s modernization initiatives.

Anticipating the challenges of future operational environments, HAVELSAN has initiated the implementation of its unmanned systems both domestically and internationally. BAHA, an essential element of this strategy, achieved export successes in Africa, Central Asia, and the MENA region in 2023 and 2024, and has now been made available for deployment by national security forces.

Demonstrating its versatility beyond military operations, BAHA was also employed during a disaster and earthquake drill organized by AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority) for debris reconnaissance and monitoring tasks.

During the Ministry of National Defense Weekly Press Briefing, Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk underscored the expanding capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces through domestically fabricated defense industry innovations, stating,

“With our locally produced defense industry innovations, designed to amplify our national and global influence and performance, the capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces are consistently improving. In this context, the assessment and acceptance procedures for the Sub-Cloud Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (BAHA) obtained by the Land Forces Command have been concluded, and the systems have been assimilated into our inventory.”

General Specifications of BAHA:

• Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW): 28 kg (including payload)
• Wingspan: 4 meters
• Payload Capacity: 2 kg
• Data Link Range: Up to 50 km
• Cruise Speed: 43 knots / 80 km/h
• Propulsion System: Electric Motor
  • Endurance: Up to 2 hours
  • Ceiling Altitude: 10,000 ft
  • Operational Altitude: 8,000 ft
• Wind Resistance Limit: 25 knots
• Operating Temperature Range: -10 °C / +50 °C

Key Features of BAHA:

• Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) with Runway-Independent Operation Ability
• Sub-Cloud Operational Capability
• Transport, Operation, and Maintenance by Two Technicians
• Day and Night Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Intelligence Operations
• Functionality in Jamming Conditions
• Target Coordinate Assessment
• Telemetry Link Redundancy
• Autonomous Return and Landing Upon Link Disruption
• Integration with Various Mission-Specific Sensors
• Collaborative Operations with Other Unmanned Systems

Engineered with state-of-the-art solutions to meet the demands of modern military factions, BAHA continues to enhance the operational capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces and stands as a proof of HAVELSAN’s commitment to technological excellence.