Mali’s junta acquires Turkish Bayraktar AKINCI attack drones
A ceremony was held in Mali to deliver modern Turkish Bayraktar AKINCI drones to the country’s junta forces.
The Malian junta’s forces announced this on their Facebook page, Militarnyi reported.
The command of the Malian junta’s forces did not specify the number of UAVs received. However, a report on the country’s state television showed three drones equipped with small, high-precision MAM-L laser-guided munitions and MAM-T glide bombs manufactured by the Turkish company Roketsan.
This is already the third known shipment of AKINCI UAVs delivered to the Malian junta forces.
The Bayraktar AKINCI is a Turkish heavy unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Baykar. The drone has a maximum takeoff weight of 6 metric tons, a payload capacity of up to 1,350 kg, and a range exceeding 4,300 km.
Previous deliveries took place in November 2024 and February 2026.
Based on the drones’ serial numbers, it can be assumed that the country has received a total of eight such drones.
Support for the junta
In 2022, Militarnyi reported on the transfer of the first Bayraktar TB2 drones to Mali. At that time, the country became the fifth in West Africa to acquire drones from Baykar.
Countries in Central and West Africa have become new markets for Turkish weapons following the withdrawal of the French military presence from the region.
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