‹ TORSALVO Codex
🇹🇷 Bayraktar KALKAN
Air · Baykar · 2024
Baykar's runway-independent VTOL UAV (program name DİHA) — takes off vertically from a ship or forward position and cruises in fixed-wing mode, powered by an indigenous BAYKUŞ engine; unveiled publicly as KALKAN in 2024.
Specifications
- Type: Hybrid VTOL — 4 electric lift motors + gasoline cruise engine, fixed-wing
- Max take-off weight: ~78 kg (current official; early version ~30 kg)
- Payload: ~3 kg (EO/IR)
- Dimensions: Wingspan 5 m · length 1.9 m
- Range: 80+ km (datalink; more with relay)
- Endurance: ~6 hours
- Ceiling: ~3,000 m operational · 8,000 ft tested (10,000 ft ceiling)
- Engine: Indigenous BAYKUŞ (Erin Motor) ~12 hp gasoline + electric lift
- Guidance/payload: EO/IR + laser rangefinder; autonomous take-off/landing; no runway required
Beats: Pist/üs olmayan yerden (gemi, sınır karakolu) dikey kalkıp keşif, Küçük ve alçak imzayla gözetleme-hedefleme
Loses to: Silahlı görev (taban sürüm silahsız), uzun menzil/dayanma isteyen derin ISR (MALE sınıfının gerisinde)
Program/family name is DİHA (Vertical Take-Off and Landing UAV); Baykar officially named the product KALKAN in 2024 — same aircraft. First flight 2019, altitude test to 8,000 ft in Jan 2023. Serial production / inventory entry not yet confirmed; armed-role trials (FPV launch/dive demo) began Nov 2025. MTOW was ~30 kg in early versions, current official spec is ~78 kg.
Related systems
Same manufacturer (Baykar): Bayraktar KIZILELMA, Bayraktar TB2, Bayraktar Akıncı, Bayraktar TB3, Bayraktar KEMANKEŞ, K2 Kamikaze İHA, Sivrisinek, Bayraktar Mini İHA
Related systems (Air): KAAN, ANKA-3, Vyriy OPTO 10, Skydagger, AKBABA, GÖKTUĞ (Gökdoğan/Bozdoğan), SOM, ÇAKIR, MAM-L, MAM-T
