# Akinci drone spotted in Libya

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2024/07/akinci-drone-spotted-in-libya/
- Published: 2024-07-18T10:32:57+01:00
- Author: Darek Liam and Military Africa

A single Turkish-made Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicle has been seen in Libya,
confirming that Libya may have taken the drone into service.

The Akinci drone was spotted in Libya during Turkey’s Chief of General Staff Gen.
Metin Gürak visit to Libya.

Türkiye’s Chief of General Staff Gen. Metin Gürak and Libya’s Prime Minister Abdulhamid
Dbeibeh on Sunday met to discuss cooperation programs between their two countries’
general staffs and the issue of joint military exercises.

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![](https://www.military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240718_103210-1024x586.
jpg)

One of Baykar’s AKINCI UCAVs was spotted in Libya during Prime Minister Abulhamid
Dibeybe’s visit.

During his visit to Libya, Gürak conveyed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s message
to Prime Minister Dbeibeh emphasizing the historical relations between the two countries,
according to a statement from the Libyan government.

Although, it is not certain when the Akinci UAV was delivered, however, it was seen
spotting a Libyan flag on its rudder.

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First report of Tripoli [acquiring the Akinci](https://www.military.africa/2022/10/libya-eyes-turkish-akinci-bayraktar-tb2-drones-signs-military-cooperation-agreement/)
was in 2022, when Libyan politician and businessman Abdulhamid Dbeibah who is the
prime minister of Libya under the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli 
on Tuesday 25, October 2022 visited Turkey where he signed a military cooperation
with the Turkish Defence Minister Akar Hulusi.

Local media reported at the time that a deal for the [acquisition of the Turkish-built Akinci drone](https://www.military.africa/2022/10/libya-eyes-turkish-akinci-bayraktar-tb2-drones-signs-military-cooperation-agreement/)
was later signed between both countries. This move consolidated Dbeibah’s grip on
power by protecting his administration from a fresh offensive by Haftar’s force,
although, Turkish military presence is already preventing such attempts.

Dbeibah previously released a statement hinting that the AKINCI have been used in
clearing Khalifa Haftar’s forces and other illegals in the North African country.

The AKINCI in the picture appears to be the A variant with AI-450T turboshaft engines,
each providing a maximum of 450 hp power.

Bayraktar Akıncı is a high-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle
being manufactured by the Turkish defence company Baykar. The aircraft has a 5.5
+ ton maximum takeoff weight, of which over 1,350 kg is payload.

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Bayraktar AKINCI is capable of conducting operations that are performed with fighter
jets. It carries electronic support systems, dual satellite communication systems,
air-to-air radar, collision avoidance radar and synthetic aperture radar.

Bayraktar AKINCI can be used in air-to-ground and air-to-air attack missions as 
well. The Akinci has been acquired by [Ethiopia](https://www.military.africa/2024/01/ethiopia-unveils-sukhoi-su-30-fighter-jet-and-akinci-combat-drone/)
and [Burkina Faso](https://www.military.africa/2024/04/burkina-fasos-akinci-drone-breaks-cover/).

Libya already [fields about 20 Bayrakter TB2 drones](https://www.military.africa/2024/04/complete-african-drone-procurement-data1980-2024/)
which was used extensively during the recent Civil war against Haftar’s Libyan National
Army. Although, several of them was lost during the conflict. They were ordered 
in 2019.

On it’s own, Haftar’s LNA [fields](https://www.military.africa/2024/04/complete-african-drone-procurement-data1980-2024/)
Chinese-made Wing Loong I (6 units) and Wing Loong II (10) units, as well as 12 
Iranian Mohajer-4 drone, and 10 Russian-built Orlan-10 tacrical drones.

The 2019 civil war witnessed a widespread use of [
 drones
 by both sides, culminating into the [largest drone warfare in the region](https://www.military.africa/2019/09/drone-war-in-libya-wing-long-ii-versus-bayraktar-tb2/). In
the last conflict, the [Turkish military used its drones to help Tripoli push back Haftar’s forces. ](https://www.military.africa/2019/06/libya-turkish-made-bayraktar-tb2-uav-seen-at-the-gna-held-airbase/)Turkish[
drones](https://www.military.africa/2022/10/libya-eyes-turkish-akinci-bayraktar-tb2-drones-signs-military-cooperation-agreement/#) particularly
the Bayraktar TB2 significantly changed the course of the battle, winning them a
victory over Haftar’s forces who were backed by Russia and the United Arab Emirates.

Besides the drones, Libya is also slated to receive 12 Hürkuş-C light trainer and
combat aircraft. The [deal was signed](https://www.military.africa/2022/06/libya-orders-hurkus-c-light-combat-aircraft-from-turkey/)
on May 19 between LAF Chief of Staff Major General Mohammed Al-Sifaw Quilt and Turkish
Aerospace Industries (TAI) officials. No details were given on an expected delivery
schedule.

Meanwhile, two Chinese-made Wing Loong II drones meant for Haftar was [recently seized by the Italian authorities.](https://www.military.africa/2024/07/italian-authorities-seize-wing-loong-ii-drones-headed-for-libya/)
The drones were found in containers, and disguised to look like wind turbine parts,
Italian officials said. These were concealed within two cargo ships docked at the
Port of Gioia Tauro in Italy.

The drone was confiscated due to Libya’s military embargo imposed by the United 
Nations (UN). Three containers were impounded on June 18 from the ship MSC Arina
and that officials were expecting another three to arrive over the weekend on the
MSC Apolline.

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**[Complete African Military Drone Procurement Data 1980-2024](https://www.military.africa/2024/04/complete-african-drone-procurement-data1980-2024/)**

---

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> [Complete African Military Drone Procurement Data 1980-2024](https://www.military.africa/2024/04/complete-african-drone-procurement-data1980-2024/)

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