UMEX 2016: Vestel's Karayel goes operational | IHS Jane's 360
Air Platforms
UMEX 2016: Vestel's Karayel goes operational
Huw Williams, Abu Dhabi - IHS Jane's International Defence Review
07 March 2016
The Karayel is equipped with an EO/IR payload for ISR missions. Source: Vestel
Vestel's Karayel unmannned aircraft system (UAS) has commenced operations in an undisclosed area of Turkey,
IHS Jane's has learned.
Speaking at the UMEX 2016 exhibition and conference in Abu Dhabi, Vestel's Süha Özgür Diner, deputy general manager of air platforms, said the company is providing a full turnkey solution in support of Turkish Land Forces operations.
Diner explained that the Karayel was being provided on a service basis - with Vestel employees acting as air crew and maintainers - as due to operational requirements the Turkish Land Forces wanted the capability fielded as soon as possible. The official handover of the system is expected in the coming weeks.
Three aircraft have been deployed and can be operated by a small team, Diner said. They consist of a pilot and payload operator, and just two maintainers/support crew. Operations have included two aircraft working at the same time, as two ground control stations have been deployed.
The aircraft is being operated with ground data terminals in order to extend its area of coverage. (Vestel)
Diner said the Karayel's early deployment is beneficial in proving the capability to the Turkish Land Forces and helping iron out operational issues. Around 1,000 flight hours have been amassed to date across the three airframes, with the missions' focus on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) duties via the aircraft's electro-optic/infrared sensors.
The Karayel, Diner said, is working at extended ranges from its forward-deployed location, using ground data terminals to relay command information to the platform and receive and ISR imagery from the area of operations. Further terminals will be deployed to expand the area of coverage, Diner added.
The aircraft is comfortably working within its flight performance envelope, Diner said, noting that the testing conditions of the area of operations were helping prove the capabilities of the platform and are building on the hot-weather tests that were conducted near Ankara last year.
Key to the performance of the aircraft in the difficult conditions, Diner said, are some of the advanced features of the Karayel design, which include triple redundancy in key systems and a de-icing capability, which he said had been employed.
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