Bayraktar TB2 Unmanned aerial combat vehicle (Turkey)
Channel: Main Battle Tank
Date: 22/01/2023

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The Bayraktar TB2 is a Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle. It was developed by Baykar Makina company. It is a medium-altitude attack drone, that has long endurance. It can be used for reconnaissance, surveillance and ground attack. Development commenced in 2007. It made its first flight in 2009. During the same year it was selected by the Turkish military. It was adopted by the Turkish military in 2014. The Bayraktar TB2 was widely used by Turkish military during conflicts in Syria and Libya. These drones reportedly destroyed a number of Russian-made Pantsyr-S1 short-range air defense systems. By 2020 the type flew more than 200 000 hours. This was a record for Turkish aviation industry. This attack drone was exported to Ukraine. In 2018 Ukraine ordered a total of 6 drones and 3 control stations and missiles for these drones. Deliveries commenced in 2019. In 2020 the Bayraktar TB2 drones were widely used by Azerbaijan against Armenian targets. In 2021 another contract was signed between Turkey and Ukraine for purchase or joint production of another 48 drones for Ukrainian military. In 2021 Ukrainians successfully used these combat drones for the first time against Russian-backed separatists. The Bayraktar TB2 proved to be an extremely effective UACV and had significant achievements during military conflicts. By 2022 it was used during military conflicts in Syria, Libya, Nagorno Karabakh and Ukraine. During these conflicts the TB2 destroyed a well over 750 military vehicles, including tanks, armored vehicles, trucks, air defense systems, artillery systems, ballistic missile launchers, aircraft, helicopters, radars, field fortifications, command posts, and various other hostile equipment. And this figure continues to grow.

   This armed drone is powered by a single Rotax 912 internal combustion engine, developing 105 hp. It can travel with a maximum speed of over 220 km. The drone carries up to 300 liters of fuel. Maximum range is up to 300 km. Operational altitude is 5.48 km. maximum altitude is 7.62 km This drone has a maximum loitering time of 27 hours.

   All critical components of this Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), including flight control system, INS-GPS, automatic take off and landing systems are produced in Turkey. In 2009 during trials this drone demonstrated a fully automatic taxi, take off, cruise flight, landing, parking.

   This attack drone can carry a maximum payload of up to 150 kg. It can carry 4 MAM-C or MAM-L missiles. These missiles were specially designed for UAVs and light attack aircraft with low payload capacity. These missiles have laser guidance and can engage stationary or moving targets. The MAM-C missile weights 6.5 kg, while the MAM-L weights 22 kg. The MAM-C is available with a multi-purpose warhead, which has armor piercing, high explosive and incendiary effects. The MAM-L is also available with multi-purpose and thermobaric warheads.

   The Bayraktar TB2 proved to be very effective in Turkish military service. This attack drone made its name as a Turkish Pantsyr killer. During military action in Syria and Libya these drones reportedly destroyed a number of Russian-made Pantsyr-S1 short-range air defense systems. By 2022 the Bayraktar TB2 destroyed 11 Pantsyr-S1 systems during various military conflicts. Though a couple of these drones were also lost to hostile fire.

   In 2020 during a military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan this unmanned aerial combat vehicle was successfully used by Azerbaijani forces to knock out Armenian Osa-AKM air defense systems. It turned out that this attack drone is a tough nut for ageing air defense systems.

   In 2022 Ukrainian Bayraktar TB2 drones destroyed numerous Russian air defense systems, including the Pantsyr, Tor, Buk. This armed drone proved to be very effective against the early days of war. However eventually Russians managed to destroy most if not all Ukrainian TB2 drones.

   Unit cost of the Bayraktar TB2 is around $5 Million. Judging from Ukrainian contracts control unit for these drones also costs around $5 Million. In 2022 Lithuanians launched a fundraiser to buy the Bayraktar TB-2 drone for the Ukrainian military. A sum of $5 million was raised in 3 days. Eventually similar fundraisers were launched in Ukraine and other countries.