Engineering:TAI Şimşek

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Short description: Turkish target drone
TAI Şimşek
Role Unmanned target drone
Manufacturer Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)
First flight August 4, 2012
Primary user Turkish Armed Forces

TAI Şimşek is a turbojet-powered radio-controlled high-speed target drone designed, developed and built by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) between 2009 and 2012 for the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces.

Şimşek is the Turkish word for "lightning".

Overview

Development started in 2009, and a prototype was presented to the public at the International Defence Industry Fair the same year.[1] The UAV made its maiden flight on August 4, 2012.[2]

Şimşek simulates enemy aircraft and missiles for air-to-air, surface-to-air, anti-aircraft gunnery and missile systems’ tracking and firing training.[3] It looks like tactical air-launched decoys (TALDs).[4]

TAI intends to further develop the drone into a cruise missile with "Human-in-the-Loop" (HITL) guidance capability for use against mobile or fixed soft targets.[4]

Payloads of TAI Şimşek consists of following features:[3]

The drone is launched from a catapult and recovered by parachute. It can take off and can be controlled from navy vessels.[3]

In July 2020 TAI launched Şimşek from TAI Anka integrated arm and made history by launching the target drone from UAV for the first time.[5][6]

Specifications

Data from Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 0
  • Wingspan: 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 740 km/h (460 mph, 400 kn)
  • Endurance: 60 min
  • Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,800 ft)

Şimşek-K

Şimşek-K presents the next generation of Turkish aerial target drones. Introduces for the first time at the IDEF 2025 it has two goals, act as a fast-moving enemy aircraft for training and be used as a kamikaze (suicide) drone.[7][8] On 22 August 2025, the Şimşek-K successfully completed its first rocket-assisted (RATO) ground launch and hit a ground target with a warhead.[7]

Specifications

  • Length: 2.4 m.[7]
  • Wingspan: 1.5 m.[7]
  • MTOW: ~83 kg.[7]
  • Payload: up to 18 kg.[7]
  • Max speed: Mach 0.63.[9]
  • Data link range: 150 km.[9]
  • Cruise missile range: 500+ km.[9]

Super Şimşek

Super Şimşek is a fast, advanced unmanned aircraft. It was first made as a target drone but has now been developed into a flexible aircraft for many missions. It is an improved version of the original Şimşek drone, designed and built by TUSAŞ for the Turkish Armed Forces.[10]

Specifications

  • Max Speed: Approximately Mach 0.85–0.9 TURDEF.[11][10]
  • Operational Ceiling: Around 35,000 ft TUSAŞ+1.[11][10]
  • Link Range: Up to 150 km (Line of Sight).[11][10]
  • Operational Range: Up to 700 km TUSAŞ+1TURDEF+2The Media Line+2.[11][10]
  • Weight: Approximately 200 kg maximum takeoff weight TUSAŞ+8.[11][10]

References

  1. ↑ "TAI Şimşek İnsansız Hava Aracı" (in Turkish). Daily Motion. 8 October 2009. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xaqxrn_tai-yimyek-ynsansyz-hava-aracy_shortfilms#.URovyYYpTMc. Retrieved 2013-02-12. 
  2. ↑ "Şimşek İlk Kez Havalandı" (in Turkish). TRT Haber. 2012-08-09. http://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/simsek-ilk-kez-havalandi-51403.html. Retrieved 2013-02-12. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Programs-UAV Systems-Target Drone Systems-Şimşek". TAI. Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20121103193025/http://www.tai.com.tr/en/project/simsek. Retrieved 2013-02-12. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "An overview of Turkish UAV R&D and production-TAI Simsek high-speed target drone". TR Defence. 2010-11-21. http://www.trdefence.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=375. Retrieved 2013-02-12. 
  5. ↑ "Türkiye 'Şimşek' ile dünyada bir ilke imza attı" (in tr). 14 July 2020. https://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/turkiye-simsek-ile-dunyada-bir-ilke-imza-atti-501444.html. 
  6. ↑ "ŞİMŞEK target drone system integrated into ANKA UAV" (in en-US). 2020-07-13. https://en.defenceturk.net/simsek-target-drone-system-integrated-into-anka-uav/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Nicanci. "Türkiye’s TAI Debuts Şimşek-K Drone at IDEF 2025 Marking a New Phase in High-Speed Drone Training Capability" (in en-gb). https://armyrecognition.com/news/aerospace-news/2025/tuerkiyes-tai-debuts-simsek-k-drone-at-idef-2025-marking-a-new-phase-in-high-speed-drone-training-capability. 
  8. ↑ Ozberk, Tayfun (2021-04-30). "Turkey converts Simsek training system into a kamikaze drone" (in en). https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2021/04/30/turkey-converts-simsek-training-system-into-a-kamikaze-drone/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "ŞİMŞEK-K with RATO Capability Hits Target with Warhead | TURDEF" (in en). 2025-08-23. https://turdef.com/article/simsek-k-with-rato-capability-hits-target-with-warhead. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 "ANKA III Releases Super Şimşek in key test for OKU Concept | TURDEF" (in en). 2025-04-08. https://turdef.com/article/anka-iii-releases-super-simsek-in-key-test-for-oku-concept. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "SÜPER ŞİMŞEK". 2025. https://www.tusas.com/urunler/iha/hedef-ucak-sistemleri/super-simsek?utm_. 

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