While the war between Russia and Ukraine lingers on, a key player in the scene, the Bayraktar
TB2 drone, has continued to defend Kyiv-backed forces against the relentless Russian aggression,
strengthening Turkey’s position as the world’s largest exporter of military drones.
Encouraged by the success stories, several military units across the globe are lining
up in their numbers to purchase this deadly autonomous aerial vehicle.
Join us in today’s video as we explain why and how the Bayraktar TB2 is drawing so much
attention.
Thanks to the performances of UAVs like the Bayraktar TB2, drones are increasingly becoming
a deciding factor in modern warfare.
Especially due to their low price and the potential to hunt down major targets like
military tanks and mighty warships.
But are they slowly becoming a motivation for countries to engage in combat?
Let’s find out together.
What type of drone is the Bayraktar TB2?
The Bayraktar TB2 is a Tactical Armed /UAV system built by a private Turkish defense
company known as Baykar Technologies.
This highly sought unmanned war craft has an operational altitude of 18,000 feet and
a maximum flying altitude of 25,000 feet.
Equipped with internal Sensor Fusion, the TB2 can navigate to find and strike targets
without the Global Positioning System or GPS.
Furthermore, it features fully automatic take-off and landing system, meaning it basically doesn’t
require a runway.
And lastly, before we talk about the sales, the Bayraktar TB2 has a maximum flying range
of 27,000 hours.
Since it was invented in 2014, this Medium Altitude Long Endurance drone has clocked
over 400,000 hours of operational flight across several combat and surveillance missions.
Over time, countries like Ukraine, Qatar, Azerbaijan, and Morocco have added the Bayraktar
TB2 to their fleet of ammunition.
And just recently, in May, Poland joined this fast-growing list of countries that have fallen
in love with the TB2 with the Polish Minister of Defence Mariusz Blaszczak announcing a
deal with Baykar Technologies to purchase 24 Bayraktar TBs.
According to reports, the drones will be delivered in four batches, and they will include extra
perks like anti-tank missiles, SAR radars, simulators, mobile control stations, as well
as training and logistics support for a total cost of $270 million.
Blaszczak further hailed the Bayraktar TB2, stating that it has proven its worth on the
battlefield.
Under Turkish law, the Defence Ministry and the office of the President must give their
approval before drones are shipped abroad.
And from all known indications, President Tayyip Erdogan was beyond pleased with the
drone sale to Poland.
“Turkey will, for the first time in its history, export drones to [a] NATO and EU
member,” Erdogan said, adding that there are currently over 180 Bayraktar TB2 drones
in active service across four countries (including Turkey).
However, other reputable reports suggest that the number of operational TB2s is much higher
than what the president reported.
Merve Seren, an Ankara-based defense analyst, believes that “the agreement with Poland
paves the way for more NATO countries” to purchase Turkish drones in the future.
With the level of interest shown in this drone by external countries, you’ve got to wonder
if it really does deliver the goods on the battlefield.
Bayraktar’s War Success Stories During Operation Spring Shield, the Turkish
military used this drone to great effect, destroying members of a rebel group led by
Gen. Khalifa Haftar.
It has also been deployed against criminal elements fighting in Armenia.
At one time, the United Arab Emirates provided Chinese-made Wing Loong drones to Libyan forces
led by Khalifa Haftar, giving them an undue aerial advantage over the less powerful Turkish
drone initially supplied to the UN-backed Libyan government.
Haftar and his forces deployed these Loong drones at night in Tripoli, killing innocent
citizens and children.
Seeing the situation, the Turkish government decided to send a couple of Bayraktar TB2s
to the UN-recognized Libyan government.
And that ultimately changed the face of the war.
Using this weapon, men of the Libyan army were able to fight back and defend the country's
capital before going on the offensive to evacuate Haftar-led forces from a key air base in 2020.
Over the past half-decade, Turkey has continuously sent out Bayraktar TB2s on cross-border combat
and surveillance operations.
In Syria alone, there have been three of such missions, including the Euphrates Shield,
Olive Branch, and the Spring Shield.
Turkish drones have also been used to deliver lethal aerial strikes against Bashar al-Assad’s
forces in Syria, taking out more than 100 armored vehicles to halt Assad’s assault
in the Idlib province.
Demand For Bayraktar TB2 drones While Turkey-built drones have grown in popularity
in recent times, the country is not alone in its pursuit to become a global force in
drone technology.
Other countries like China, Israel, and the United States hold considerable market shares
in the drone industry.
Back when Turkey didn't have a drone program, the country depended on Israeli drones to
battle Kurdish criminal groups in Syria.
It became worse between 2010 and 2012 when the United States refused to sell combat drones
to the Turkish government, forcing the latter to look within and develop a drone program
of its own.
Among the heavyweights in the drone industry, China is considered as the biggest competition
to Turkey because, unlike the due diligence process in Israel and the United States, Chinese
drones can be bought easily.
This has helped to increase the interest in Chinese drones, especially from countries
in Africa and the Middle East.
In July 2020, China sold six CH-92A attack/reconnaissance UAVs to Serbia.
The Chinese had hoped that this would boost their entry into the European market and drive
more demand for its drones in the region but that didn't happen.
More because their performance in highly sensitive combat situations has not been proven.
However, at a unit price of one million dollars, countries like Nigeria, Egypt, the United
Arab Emirates, and many others have jumped at the opportunity of buying Chinese combat
drones.
In Israel's case, demand is somewhat stable, and having executed different missions in
Palestine, Lebanon, and Gaza - their competence is not in doubt.
But the due diligence process, high cost, and restrictions involved in procuring drones
from the country can be tiring for potential customers.
Meanwhile, American drones are known to be exceptionally efficient in delivering laser-precise
air strikes, but they're even more expensive than their Israeli counterparts, with one
unit of the MQ-9 Reaper costing around $100 million.
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Why Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 Drones Draw So Much Attention?
In terms of price, Turkish UAVs like the TB2 drones are considered mid-range because they're
slightly more expensive than Chinese drones but way cheaper than those made in Israel
and the United States.
However, when we rank them based on performance, Turkish drones are just about as good as their
Israeli and US counterparts.
On average, a typical Bayraktar TB2 drone costs between one and five million dollars.
And the whole world has seen firsthand how effective they've been against the Russian
forces, destroying oil storage, tanks, helicopters, and aircraft worth hundreds of millions of
dollars.
In addition, Bayraktar Technologies offer training and other after-sales support to
customers who require them.
These three factors combined are the major reasons why the Bayraktar TB2 has gained so
much attention in the last few months.
"Bayraktar TB2 is doing what it was supposed to do – taking out some of the most advanced
anti-aircraft systems and advanced artillery systems and armored vehicles," Selçuk Bayraktar,
one of Bayraktar’s top officials told Reuters, adding that “the whole world is a customer."
But is the Bayraktar TB2 becoming a motivation to engage in warfare?
The Bayrsktar has earned special admiration across different military units around the
world, so much so that members of the Ukrainian army made a catchy music video in its honor.
It's hard to think of any other military equipment that has gotten this type of fanfare and endorsement
in recent times.
Not even the US Predator or Reaper can boast of this achievement.
However, this enormous publicity might have some negative implications to it by creating
a situation known as “Drone Envy.”
For instance, in 2021, Kyrgyzstan purchased three Bayraktar TB2s from Turkey to gain a
significant advantage over Tajikistan in the ongoing cross-border dispute.
After being on the receiving side for a while, Tajikistan approached Turkey to buy Bayraktar
TB2 drones of its own, cancelling out its neighbor’s advantage.
You might argue that the TB2 even things out between both countries, but on the other hand,
it is being used to stoke the fire.
Probably a more diplomatic approach could have been adopted if the Bayraktar TB2 wasn't
so cheap and accessible as it is.
Countries and even private aggressors now know that they can impose their will and wreak
havoc on weaker oppositions (in quote).
We hear that Baykar is currently designing the TB3, a more lethal version of TB2 that
will have foldable wings The firm is also looking to design AI-powered
aircraft that will “revolutionize” human transportation.
Comment Bait What’s your opinion on the use of drones
in warfare?
Will they eventually become more efficient than military aircraft?
Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
Be sure to check out this video over here.