Page 27 - SAHA EXPO 2024 - DAY 1

have either signed a deal for the drone or “There are many military drones customers is Azerbaijan; in February this
expressed interest. year, Baykar inaugurated a training facility
in the market, but it is hard to and maintenance hangar for its Akinci.
International interest in the drone has find one that can match TB2’s In March, the company announced that
soared following its starring role in many track record of being com- it would integrate Roketsan MAM-L and
recent or ongoing conflicts. So success- MAM-T guided bombs onto the combat
ful was Ukraine in using the TB2 against bat proven in all regions and drone.
Russian tanks and military installations in different types of weather
during the early days of the ongoing conflict conditions,” the official added. Get Ready for TB3
that the military drone has a whole folk song
– aptly named Bayraktar – dedicated to it. “Apart from Ukraine, the drone The Turkish defence giant expects to com-
The UCAV, which can conduct Intelligence, has been successfully used in mence full mass production of the Bayraktar
Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and TB3 drone, an UCAV that is designed to
armed attack missions, is capable of fully places like Syria, Azerbaijan, and operate from short-runway aircraft carri-
autonomous taxiing, take-off, landing and Libya. The TB2 has a maximum ers, such as the TCG Anadolu, this year.

cruise. The drone has a maximum endur- endurance of over 24 hours. Its Besides reconnaissance/surveillance and
ance of more than 24 hours. intelligence missions, the TB3 can launch
diesel engine uses only 10 litres an assault operation with smart munitions
per hour.” stationed under its wings. The drone, which
“It is the most popular combat has foldable wings that enable use on air-
UAV in the world; it is a rockstar,” One of the standout features of the TB2 is craft carriers, can be operated from remote
a company official told GBP Aerospace & that all its avionics are produced in-house. distances thanks to its Line-Of-Sight and
Defence at DIMDEX 2024, earlier this year. The ammunition for the drone is supplied Beyond-Line-Of-Sight communications
capabilities.
“It is combat proven and cost by fellow Turkish companies.

effective. Until now, we have Akinci Makes History The TB3’s first flight took place on October
sold almost 600 TB2 drones to However, it is not the TB2 but the Akinci, 27 last year and signalling its intent to woo
the international market with the drone,
34 countries.” which entered service with the Turkish Baykar showcased it earlier this year at
the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and
Conference (UMEX) in the UAE. In May this
year, the TB3 – which has a length of 8.35
meters and a wingspan of 14 meters - set a
new altitude record by reaching 33,000 feet
during a high-altitude performance test. The
drone was powered by the domestically de-
veloped PD-170 engine produced by TUSAS
Engine Industries Inc. (TEI).

Considerably larger than the TB2, the TB3
has a maximum take-off weight of 1,450
kilograms, compared to the TB2’s 700 kilo-
grams. The UCAV has a payload capacity
of up to 280 kilograms and is capable of a
maximum speed of 160 knots (300 km/h)
and a cruise speed of 125 knots (232 km/h).
The TB3, which has an operational range of
1,000 knots (1,900 km), is equipped with six
hardpoints for various laser-guided muni-
The Tactical Armed / UAV System con- armed forces on August 2021, that has tions and features advanced avionics.
sists of Bayraktar TB2 Armed / UAV fetched the company its biggest order in
Platform, Ground Control Station, Ground terms of size. In August last year, Türkiye In April last year, Baykar unveiled the
Data Terminal, Remote Display Terminal, and Saudi Arabia signed an US$3 billion Kemankes (Kagem) kamikaze drone, with
Advanced Base with Generator and Trailer agreement by which Baykar would produce an operational range of over 200 km, for
modules. Cashing in on the surging interna- the Akinci in Saudi Arabia, while Aselsan and use against strategic targets. The winged
tional interest for TB2, Baykar announced in Roketsan would localize production of the loitering munition, which can be deployed
2022 that it intends to set up a manufactur- drone’s sensors and weapons. Akinci UAVs, by drones such as the Akinci and TB2, is
ing plant in Ukraine for the TB2. In February which can be used in air-to-ground and air- capable of flying at least an hour in the air
this year, the company announced that to-air attack missions, will be operated by and is fitting with a turbojet engine. The
construction of the facility had commenced both the Royal Saudi Air Force and Royal kamikaze drone, which can carry a payload
and would finish in 12 months. The factory, Saudi Navy. of 6 kilograms and has a laser rangefinder
near Kyiv, is expected to employ around with a range of 2.8 kilometres, can also
500 people. Among the drone’s other international perform an autonomous flight.

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