Aksungur, a domestically produced medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), completed a 28-hour-long flight Thursday. It was the first time the aircraft flew with a payload at an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,096 meters).
TAI confirmed the new achievement on Twitter. “Aksungur, the domestic and national product of our country, flew for the first time with full ammunition, 12 MAM-L (Smart Micro Munition), at an altitude of 20,000 feet for 28 hours,” the statement read.
TAI also shared a video of the flight. Aksungur can carry up to 750 kilograms (1,654 pounds) of payload and is capable of long-endurance operations at an altitude of up to 40,000 feet.
The UAV most recently broke a record during its 59th test flight by staying in the air for 49 hours, TAI announced on Sept. 2. Loaded in all six stations, Aksungur performed the 28-hour mission with 12 MAM-Ls for the first time.
