A Turkish-made Bayraktar Akıncı drone crashed in Libya for the first time, according to information shared by military observer Oded Berkowitz on his X account.
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The wreckage of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was found near the city of Agilata, located between the capital Tripoli and the border with Tunisia.
Drone Belonged to the Libyan Air Force
According to the visible markings on the wreckage, the drone belonged to the Libyan Air Force. The presence of this model in the country was confirmed in May 2023, when the Libyan Prime Minister released images showing the use of the Akıncı in operations against smuggling.
The crashed UAV was likely based at Misrata Air Base, from where it conducted combat and training missions. According to published images, it was armed with high-precision MAM-L guided aerial bombs.
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Cause of the Crash Remains Unknown
The exact cause of the crash has not yet been determined. However, some sources suggest that the drone may have been shot down by smuggling groups, based on suspicious movements in the sky recorded at the time of the incident.
This was the first recorded loss of a Bayraktar Akıncı, a drone that has only recently begun to be delivered to international clients.
Besides Libya, the model is already in service in countries such as Turkey, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Mali, the United Arab Emirates, and Burkina Faso.
Sources and images: mil.in.ua, X @Oded121351. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.