The Turkish Ministry of National Defense has announced that the Sub-Cloud Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) BAHA, which was procured in various quantities by the Land Forces Command, has successfully completed its inspection and acceptance procedures and has officially entered into the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces.
Developed by HAVELSAN and inducted into the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory in 2024, BAHA marks a significant milestone through the journey of Digital Troops which was conceptualised first in 2021. Following the earlier induction of BARKAN, the first unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) of the Digital Troops, BAHA’s integration further strengthens the Turkish military’s modernization efforts.
Anticipating the requirements of future operational environments, HAVELSAN has begun to deploy its unmanned systems domestically and internationally. BAHA, an important element of this vision, achieved export successes in Africa, Central Asia, and the MENA region in 2023 and 2024 and has now been made available for use by national security forces.
Demonstrating its versatility beyond military operations, BAHA was also deployed during a disaster and earthquake drill coordinated by AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority) for rubble reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
Speaking at the Ministry of National Defense Weekly Press Briefing, Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk emphasized the growing capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces through indigenous defense industry products, stating,
“With our domestically developed defense industry products, which aim to enhance our national and international power and influence, the capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces continue to grow day by day. In this context, inspection and acceptance procedures for the Sub-Cloud Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (BAHA) procured by the Land Forces Command have been completed, and the systems have been inducted 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) and Runway-Independent Mission Capability
- Sub-Cloud Operational Capability
- Transport, Operation, and Maintenance by Two Technicians
- Day and Night Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Intelligence Missions
- Operation in Jamming Environments
- Target Coordinate Estimation
- Telemetry Link Redundancy
- Autonomous Return and Landing in Case of Link Loss
- Integration with Various Mission-Specific Sensors
- Joint Operations Capability with Other Unmanned Systems
Developed with superior engineering solutions to meet the demands of modern armies, BAHA continues to enhance the operational capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces and stands as a symbol of HAVELSAN’s commitment to technological excellence.
