The Bayraktar TB2 is a Turkish drone which Ukraine has recently claimed is capable of destroying Russian convoys and war vehicles. How is the story of Turkey managed to create a drone that is quite reliable?
Turkey is indeed proud of Bayraktar TB2 because it is not only used for the domestic military, many other countries also buy it. Reportedly, TB2 has been ordered from 16 countries, including Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Tunisia, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.
As quoted by us from Deutsche Welle, Wednesday (9/3/2022) Poland is the first NATO member to purchase 24 drones in 2021 to add to its arsenal.
First flight in 2014, the Bayraktar TB2 can carry weapons of up to 150 kilograms and launch attacks against opposing tanks or bunkers. This drone is 6.5 meters long and has a wingspan of 12 meters.
In addition to attacking the enemy, Bayraktar TB2 can also be used for reconnaissance missions from the air. It can fly for 24 to 25 hours at a maximum altitude of 7,300 meters both during the day and at night. The maximum speed is 220 kilometers per hour.
Created by the Baykar company, this combat drone was born as a result of United States sanctions banning the export of drones to Turkey. The reason is, there are fears that such aircraft will be used to target the Kurds.
The first generation, Bayraktar TB1, was handed over to the Turkish military in 2011. Only then was the Bayraktar TB2 developed which is reliable to this day. The third generation is being prepared.
Baykar's CEO, Haluk Bayraktar, once stated that Bayraktar TB2 is purely Turkish-made and the technology is advanced. "It should be noted that the goal to create this drone was motivated by a willingness to develop without relying on external sources," he said.
Bayraktar made by Turkish engineers
"All the Bayraktar TB2 systems were developed by Turkish engineers. As for the airframe, electronic systems, guidance and control systems on the ground, we can produce them according to our wishes. 93% of these drones are domestically made," he claimed.
According to him, this kind of drone is very reliable on the battlefield. "They can be in the air for a very long time. They can also monitor dangerous areas without being detected. So the benefits are huge," he said.
Baykar has been eyeing new markets for the Bayraktar TB3, among them Japan. "The upcoming TB3 will perfectly match the Japanese Izumo ship platform. Japan should get its hands on combat drones as soon as possible," said the CEO.
Apart from Ukraine, TB2 has flown more than 420,000 hours in places such as Syria, Libya and Iraq. Some analysts believe the drone was the decisive weapon during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2020.
TB2 has also recently been used in Ethiopia. According to investigators, the drone strike killed at least 59 civilians in Tigray.