UAE Tech Group EDGE to Equip Turkish Drones With Precision Guided Bombs

Defense News UAE & Turkey :- UAE technology group EDGE is set to integrate its precision-guided munition into Turkey's unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). In a recent deal with Baykar, EDGE will equip Baykar's Bayraktar TB2 drones with Desert Sting 16 GPS- and laser-guided bombs.

According to Baykar's chairman and chief technology officer, Selcuk Bayraktar, this agreement aligns with the company's objective to enhance the payload capabilities of its unmanned vehicles. The strategic alliance with EDGE, an international technology leader, is expected to provide additional options for Baykar's clients.

A video shared by EDGE showcases a TB2 UCAV fitted with the Desert Sting 16 bomb. The plan is to fully integrate the TB2 fleet with this munition by the end of 2024, enabling the drones to employ them in upcoming ground-attack missions.

Desert Sting 16 is designed for accuracy, utilizing global navigation satellite systems and a semi-active laser configuration to hit targets up to 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) away. It features a 12-kilogram (26.5 pounds) warhead and has a gross weight of 23 kilos (51 pounds).

It's worth noting that the UAE had previously purchased a different variant, Desert Sting 25, as part of a 4.7-billion dirham ($1.3 billion) weapons deal with EDGE last year.

As for the Bayraktar TB2, it stands as a tactical UCAV with an impressive flight time of 27 hours and a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet (4.7 miles/7.6 kilometers). Capable of communicating with control stations and terminals up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) away, the drone maps its route based on non-delay, real-time image transmissions, enhancing situational awareness.