Saudi naval personnel complete Akinci training

Royal Saudi Navy Forces personnel graduate at Baykar's facility in Çorlu. (Baykar Technologies)

A contingent of 30 personnel from the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) have completed a training course at the Baykar Technologies' Flight Training and Test Centre in Çorlu, the Turkish company announced on 25 September.

The company did not say what the 15 pilots and 15 technicians were trained to do, but illustrated the announcement with a photograph of the RSNF trainees standing next to Bayraktar Akıncı unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The Saudi Ministry of Defence released a statement later on 25 September saying this was the second batch of RSNF personnel who have been trained on the Al-Raad (thunder) UAV, which is seemingly its name for the Akıncı.

While the graduation of the first batch of RSNF personnel was not announced, Baykar released a statement in October 2025 saying Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) personnel had completed their Akıncı training at Çorlu.

The entry of the Akıncı into Saudi service was effectively confirmed on 26 July, when Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed they had shot one down. They released a video showing the wreckage of an Akıncı that had crashed in Yemen.

When Saudi Arabia's acquisition of the Akıncı was announced in July 2023, Baykar said the UAVs would be delivered to both the RSNF and RSAF. Described as Türkiye's largest ever defence and aviation export, the programme includes the local production of up to 70% of the UAVs, according to Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI).