Burkina Faso's President Ibrahim Traore commends Turkish Bayraktar TB2, Bayraktar Akinci UCAVs

Burkina Faso unveiled its freshly purchased Akinci long-range combat drones to the public for the first time, a step that significantly strengthened the country's defense capabilities. Reiterating the country's increasing dependence on cutting-edge military technologies, President Ibrahim Traore made the unveiling announcement.

"Our defense capacity consists of the famous Bayraktar TB2s. We now have a new UCAV called Akinci," President Traore stated, underscoring the significance of the latest addition to Burkina Faso's military arsenal.

President Traore demonstrated Akinci's remarkable capabilities by revealing the extensive testing program that was carried out to evaluate its performance on a number of important fronts. "We subjected Akinci to intensive tests in terms of carrying capacity, endurance, altitude, speed, and performance," he said.

In particular, the Akinci exceeded expectations by demonstrating unmatched dependability and technical strength.

President Traore highlighted that the UCAV was seamlessly integrated into Burkina Faso's defense operations, pointing out that "it participated in combat missions even during the testing process," demonstrating the Akinci's operational preparedness.

The president emphasized in his speech how much the country believes the Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci drones would be invaluable tools in the fight against new security threats.

Accompanying the five Bayraktar TB2s and a variety of guided and unguided ammunition, the Akinci drones were presented as part of a broader purchase transaction.

The purchase highlights Burkina Faso's strategic move to high-tech military equipment produced in Türkiye. The installation of the drones is a significant step forward, indicating how Turkish defense companies are finding success in Africa.

One of the most advanced unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) on the market is the Bayraktar Akinci, which is produced by Baykar. It is named for its high altitude, long endurance (HALE) design.

Advanced features of the Akinci include turboprop engines, electronic support systems, and radar technology. Its maximum takeoff weight exceeds 5.5 tons, and it can carry over 1,350 kg of cargo.

In addition to larger payloads like ROKETSAN's TEBER GPS and laser-guided general-purpose bombs, the Akinci UCAVs were seen equipped with a variety of weapons during the unveiling, including MAM-L and MAM-T.

Burkina Faso's intention to strengthen its military capabilities in the face of growing security challenges is highlighted by the firing demonstration.

The nation's proactive approach to addressing security concerns was demonstrated when Interim Leader Ibrahim Traore, who came to office in Sept. 2022 via a coup, examined the Akinci drones.

Burkina Faso is facing increasing levels of violence that are causing deaths and large-scale displacement. The unrest is being caused by terrorist operations that are coming from neighboring Mali and Niger.

Burkina Faso has demonstrated its will to successfully counteract terrorism and insurgency operations with the deployment of Akinci drones.

The drones are well-positioned to mitigate the risks presented by extremist groups, having demonstrated their ability to operate effectively in a variety of contexts.

Source: Newsroom