Chad’s Armed HÜRKUŞ Planes Spotted in Formation Flight
The Chad Air Force has been actively utilizing Armed HÜRKUŞ aircraft recently. These airplanes, loaded with CİRİT and MAM-L ammunition, were spotted on a column flight, showcasing Chad’s commitment to integrating Turkish defense industry products into their arsenal.
Chad has made significant acquisitions from the Turkish defense industry, including 3 Armed HÜRKUŞ Aircraft and 2 ANKA and AKSUNGUR SIHAs from TAI. This new procurement has enabled Chad to not only acquire Turkish aircraft but also Turkish ammunition, leading to the active deployment of these products in recent operations.
In a recent development, armed HÜRKUŞ aircraft belonging to the Chad Air Force were seen conducting a column flight. Video footage shared on social media revealed that one of the HÜRKUŞ planes was equipped with the MAM-L guided bomb, a widely-used ammunition by Turkish UCAVs, while the other carried a 4-pack CİRİT Laser Guided Missile Launcher, both produced by Roketsan.
These armed HÜRKUŞ aircraft provided to Chad feature 2 weapon stations on each wing, with an additional payload station under the fuselage that carries an electro-optical reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting system. This system facilitates the laser marking necessary for laser seeker ammunition like MAM-L and CİRİT.
The HÜRKUŞ-C, the attack aircraft configuration of HÜRKUŞ, is anticipated to have 3 weapon stations on each wing. This light attack and armed reconnaissance variant offer a cost-effective and flexible solution against asymmetric threats on modern battlefields.
With 7 external load stations and a payload capacity of up to 1500 kg, HÜRKUŞ-C can perform challenging missions in various conditions, including high altitudes and difficult terrains, during day and night operations. The aircraft’s features include an armored structure, self-protection systems, a night vision-compatible digital cockpit, advanced avionics systems, EO/IR imaging and targeting system, real-time data and video transfer, and digital secure communication capability.
Chad’s utilization of Turkish defense industry products demonstrates the growing partnership between Chad and Turkey in the defense sector, showcasing the effectiveness and reliability of Turkish-made aircraft and ammunition.
