vestel karayel (9f8e7d6c-5b4a-3c2d-1e0f-9a8b7c6d5e4f)
The Vestel Karayel is a Turkish‑made tactical UAV that began as a medium‑altitude, long‑endurance surveillance and reconnaissance platform and was later upgraded to an armed variant. Powered by a 97 hp rotary engine, it can stay aloft for up to 20 hours, cruise at 150 km/h, and carry a 50 kg EO/IR payload plus up to 120 kg of munitions on its hardpoints (e.g., L‑UMTAS, MAM‑C/L, Roketsan Cirit). Its triple‑redundant avionics, NATO‑STANAG 4671 airworthiness, de‑icing and lightning‑protection systems give it high reliability in diverse climates. Operated by the Turkish Armed Forces and Saudi Arabia, the Karayel has seen combat in the Yemeni conflict, where several units have been shot down, demonstrating both its operational use and vulnerability in contested airspaces.