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While the Turkish Armed Forces describes Bayraktar TB2 as "Tactical UAV Class" to prevent it from being a competitor to the TAI Anka UAV, international standards would classify it as a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV.[8][9]
The aircraft previously relied on imported and regulated components and technologies such as the engines (manufactured by Rotax in Austria) and optoelectronics (FLIR sensors imported from Wescam in Canada or Hensoldt from Germany). Engines exports were halted when Bombardier, owner of Rotax, became aware of the military use of their recreational aircraft engines.[10] In October 2020 Canadian WESCAM (optics and sensors) exports were restricted by the Canadian Foreign Ministry.[11] At the same time local FLIR integration tests started with Aselsan's CATS FLIR system on 6 November 2020.[12]
Bayraktar drones have been praised for their achievements by Turkish and non-Turkish authorities. British Defense Minister Ben Wallace and American political science author Francis Fukuyama praised the platform and its systems.[13][14]
As of 26 November 2021, the TB2 drone completed 400,000 flight-hours globally.[15][2]
Development
Bayraktar TB's information board of technical specifications in Turkish language.
The development of the Bayraktar TB2 had been spurred by a U.S. ban on exports of armed unmanned aircraft to Turkey due to concerns they would be used against PKK groups inside and outside Turkey.[6]
Baykar started to develop a new combat tactical aerial vehicle system on request of Presidency of Defense Industries, after the experiences of its first tactical UAV Bayraktar Çaldıran delivered to the Turkish army in 2011.[16] The Bayraktar TB2 conducted its maiden flight in August 2014.[17] On 18 December 2015, a video was published for the missile test of Bayraktar TB2 as collaboration result with ROKETSAN. Roketsan's MAM (Smart Micro Munition)'s and TUBITAK-SAGE BOZOK Laser-guided bombs tested for the first time.[18][19][20][21]
According to British newspaper The Guardian, the arming of the Bayraktar TB2 would not have been possible without the help of UK based technology, namely the Hornet micro-munitions bomb rack invented, developed, designed and patented by EDO MBM Technology Ltd, Brighton in the UK. The bomb rack was provided to Turkey in 2015, and a variant of it was integrated onto the aircraft by the UK company and Roketsan.[22] In response to The Guardian newspaper, Baykar Chief Technical Officer Selcuk Bayraktar denied that the bomb rack came from the UK. "We are not buying it from you, we never did. It not only does not work under any circumstances but is also very expensive," Bayraktar said on Twitter. "We have designed and manufactured a more advanced and cost-effective one ourselves."[23] This denial appears to be intended to obscure the facts from the Turkish public.[24]
On 19 August 2020 the UK Department for International Trade (DIT) disclosed details of a six-year history of exports of the Hornet bomb rack to Turkey between 2014 and 2020 suggesting that supply of the critical technology to Turkey had continued well beyond the development stage of the Bayraktar TB2 and right up to the publication of the Guardian story in November 2019. "There were 18 Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) applications submitted by EDO MBM Technology between 2014–2020 for exports of goods 'related to Hornet Bomb Racks / Hornet Missile Launchers' to Turkey where the proposed exports were for end-users in Turkey. Of these, 16 licences were granted, and 2 applications were stopped."[25]
Baykar signed a deal with Qatar in March 2018 to manufacture six drones for the Qatari forces. In January 2018, Baykar signed an agreement with Ukrspetsproject on the purchase of 12 Turkish Bayraktar TB2 and 3 ground control stations worth US$69 million for the Ukrainian army.[26][27] Ukraine received the first batch of UAVs in March 2019.[28]
The Bayraktar TB2 production cost is $1–2 million dollars[29]
5-view drawing of Bayraktar TB2 tactical drone in flight configuration. The craft is armed with a MAM-L bomb on an inner and a MAM-C bomb on an outer stb. hardpoint.
In October 2020 the use of the Canadian Wescam CMX-15D system in the drone was disclosed after Armenian officials claimed that remains of a CMX-15D system had been recovered from a downed TB2 drone during the nation's conflict with Azerbaijan. That triggered the stopping of CMX-15D exports to Turkey while an investigation by Global Affairs Canada evaluates the use of Canadian technology in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.[30] Turkey selected the Common Aperture Targeting System (CATS) from Aselsan as a replacement for Canadian CMX-15D.[31][32][33][34]
in 2021 Turkey's indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Bayraktar TB2 has completed 400,000 hours of operational flight hours[15][2]
Characteristics
Design
Bayraktar GCS cutaway.Bayraktar Ground Control Station.
Bayraktar TB2 Platform has a blended wing body design with its inverse V-Tail structure. Blended wing body design supports the lifting performance of the overall platform. Thrust is generated through the internal combustion engine placed between the tail booms. Monocoque platform is modular with detachable main items such as wing, tail boom, and V-Tails. All of the fuselage items are mostly made of carbon fiber composite parts whereas precision CNC machined aluminum parts are used at the junction sections of the platform. Fuel is stored within bladder tanks and fuel consumption is automatically balanced with solenoid valves. Variable pitch two blade propeller allows for medium altitude efficient flying.[citation needed]
Ground Control Station is based on a NATO spec shelter unit which is equipped with cross redundant command and control systems. The mobile unit supports for three personnel pilot, payload operator and mission commander. GCS is equipped with redundant Air Conditioners and NBC filtering unit. All hardware inside the shelter is placed inside racked cabinets. Each operator has dual screens in front along with the Operator Interface Software used for real-time command, control and monitoring.[35]
Configuration
Baykar UAV Team
Each TB2 is configured with six aerial vehicle platforms, two Ground Control Stations (GCS), three Ground Data Terminals (GDT), two Remote Video Terminals (RVT) and Ground Support Equipment. Each Aerial Platform is equipped with a triply redundant avionics system. Its ground control system's cross redundant architecture allows for pilot, payload operator and mission commander to command, control and monitor the platform.[36]
Digital flight control system
Bayraktar has a triple-redundant flight control system with autonomous taxi, takeoff, cruise, landing and parking capability without any external sensor aid. The flight control system is the central main component, which conducts sensor fusion algorithms running with the real-time sensor data. Mission-specific controls are handled through the mission control computer system. Aerial platform is guided through various redundant rotary and linear servo actuators, which are designed according to the dynamics of the aerial platform. All of the main airborne avionics equipment software and hardware are developed under the running program so as to achieve utmost performance. Electronic power unit powers the onboard systems supported with triple alternators and smartly balanced lithium-ion battery units. A ruggedized heated camera unit is placed at the tail section of the platform to monitor flight and all payload, and telemetry data are recorded to the airborne data recorder. Redundancy architecture of the avionics support for autonomous emergency landings on different airfields if necessary. Sensor fusion algorithms allow navigation and auto landing even in loss global positioning signals.[37]
Operational history
Bayraktar Tactical Block 2 (TB2) first trial flights
Turkish military used combined UAV and artillery tactics in Syria against the PKK-linked YPG. According to Turkey the number of militant killed or wounded, ascended to 449 by use of armed TB2 and 680 were indirectly in operations assisted by air support from the UAV.[38]
On 16 May 2021, one Bayraktar TB2 crashed in Zebari, Northern Iraq, Kurdish militants claimed they shot down the drone.[44]
Libya
In June 2019, international news media reported that the Libyan UN recognized[45]Government of National Accord (GNA) used Bayraktar TB2s to strike an airbase held by General Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA). Despite the UN embargo on Libya's ongoing civil war, it is suspected that at least 3 Bayraktar TB2 UCAV were being used over Tripoli by the GNA government forces. On 6 June 2019, two GNA Bayraktar TB2 drones are destroyed along a operation room by LNA attacks on Mitiga Airport.[46][47] Video evidence shows at-least one Bayraktar TB2 flying over Tripoli[48] about to land at Mitiga's Military section, under control of GNA-allied forces.
On 14 May 2019, a GNA Bayraktar TB2 drone is destroyed by LNA defenses in Al -Jufra area.[49][50]
On 6 June 2019, two GNA Bayraktar TB2 drones are destroyed along an operation room by LNA attacks on Mitiga Airport.[51][47]
On 30 June 2019, a Bayraktar TB2 drone is destroyed by LNA defenses.[52][46]
On 25 July 2019, two LNA Ilyushin Il-76TD cargo planes are destroyed in the ground in al-Jufra Air base by an attack made by Bayraktar TB2 drones.[53] A GNA Bayraktar TB2 drone is shot down near al-Jufra airbase during the same attack.[54]
On 14 December 2019, a GNA Bayraktar TB2 drone is shot down in Ain Zara, Tripoli.[55]
On 2 January 2020, a GNA Bayraktar TB2 drone is shot down south of Mitiga Airport, Tripoli.[56]
On 22 January 2020, a GNA Bayraktar TB2 drone with GNA markings is shot down by LNA forces after taking off from Mitiga International Airport.[57]
On 25 February 2020, the LNA shoot down a GNA Turkish made Bayraktar TB2 drone, prviding a video of the wreck.[58][59]
On 26 February 2020, the LNA shoot down another GNA Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone, providing video of the wreck.[59][60]
On 31 March 2020, the LNA shot down two GNA Bayraktar TB2 combat drones near Tripoli;[61] one in Misrata Air College[62] and another in Al-Tawaisha.[63]
On 5 April 2020, a GNA Bayraktar TB2 drone is shot down by LNA forces in Alwashka, Libya.[64]
On 11 April 2020, a GNA Bayraktar TB2 drone is shot down in Tarhuna.[65][64]
On 16 April 2020, a GNA Bayraktar TB2 drone was shot down near Tarhuna.[66]
On 17 April 2020, two GNA Bayraktar TB2 drones are shot down; one near Bani Walid[67] and another in the South near Wadi dinar.[68]
On 18 April 2020, a GNA Bayraktar TB2 drone is shot down by LNA forces south of Tripoli.[69][70]
On 2 May 2020, a GNA Bayraktar TB2 drone is destroyed at Arada, near Mitiga Airport, downed by LNA forces.[71]
On 12 May 2020, a GNA Bayraktar TB2 drone is shot down near Ash Shwayrif, Tripoli.[72]
On 7 June 2020, a GNA Bayraktar TB2 drone was shot down by LNA forces near Sirte.[64]
8 June 2020, a GNA Bayraktar TB2 drone was shot down by LNA forces as it attempted to bomb LNA forces in Sirte.[75][76]
By 1 July 2020, at least 16 Bayraktar TB2 drones were reported shot down or lost on Libya during six months of fighting[77] and 23 were reported lost since LNA offensive in Western Libya that began in April 2019.[61]
During the week of fighting, Turkish drones took out 73 Syrian armed vehicles.[84] Russian sources said that the Russian-backed Syrian air defences claimed the destruction of seven Bayraktar TB2 UAVs by 5 March 2020.[85] However, there is only visual evidence for three Bayraktar drones being shot down.[86][87][88][89]
On 23 August 2020, another Bayraktar TB2 drone was shot down by Syrian Air Defenses near Kafr Nabl, Idlib after being detected spotting targets for Syrian rebels.[90][91]
On 22 October 2021, Turkey launched a surprise attack using Bayraktar TB2s on Syrian town Ain Al-arab destroying several vehicles and killing a passenger of the car, a suspected member of a Kurdish rebel group.[92]
In June 2020, the Defence Minister of Azerbaijan, Zakir Hasanov, announced that Azerbaijan had taken the decision to purchase Bayraktar drones from Turkey.[93] During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Bayraktar TB2s were used against Armed Forces of Armenia with great success.[94] Azerbaijan used TB-2 to destroy Armenian artillery, infantry positions and military vehicles including BM-30 SmerchMLRS, T-72stanks, BMP-1 and BMP-2IFVs.[95][96] Nine Osa and Strela-10 air defense systems were also destroyed by Azerbaijani drones likely TB2s.[95]
On 19 October 2020, a Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2s was shot down by air defenses of the Armenian Army over the skies of Nagorno Karabakh.[97][98] On 8 November 2020, another Azerbaijani Bayraktar TB2 was shot down by air defense on southeastern Nagorno Karabakh.[99]
After learning that their products were used on Bayraktar TB2 drones, Hampshire-based UK aircraft component manufacturer Andair announced halting supply and cancelling all orders from Baykar Makina on 11 January 2021.[100] The British manufacturer became the latest company to stop selling equipment to Turkey after its components were found in drones shot down during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.[101] After that the Turkish government announced to instead locally produce the component that Andair boycotted[102]
Ukraine
Bayraktar TB2 of Ukrainian Air Force armed with MAM-L, two ground control stations in the background
As a part of its military modernization program the Armed Forces of Ukraine acquired 12 Bayraktar TB2s in 2019.[103][104] After the successful use of the aircraft the Ukrainian Navy had ordered a separate order of 5 additional Bayraktar TB2s, delivered in 2020 according to navy officials.[105] Meanwhile, Turkish and Ukrainian officials have announced the establishment of a joint venture to produce 48 additional Bayraktar TB2s in Ukraine.[106]
During a Russian military buildup in Crimea and near Ukraine’s borders, a Bayraktar TB2 conducted a reconnaissance flight over the Donbas region on 9 April 2021. This was the first operationalization of the aircraft by the Ukrainian Forces within an active conflict zone.[107][108] In October 2021, a Bayraktar TB2 drone was used for the first time in combat during the war, targeting a Russian separatist artillery position, destroying a D-30 howitzer, and halting the bombardment of Ukrainian troops near Hranitne.[109]
Variants
Bayraktar TB3
In February 2021, chairman of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) Ismail Demir made public a new type of UAV being developed by Baykar that is planned to be stationed to Turkey's first amphibious assault ship, TCG Anadolu.[110] The new aircraft being developed is a naval version of the Bayraktar TB2 equipped with a local engine developed by TEI.[111] According to the initial plans the ship was expected to be equipped with F-35B fighter jets but following the removal of Turkey from the procurement program, the vessel got into a modification process to be able to accommodate UAVs.[112] Mr. Demir stated that between 30 and 50 folding-winged Bayraktar TB3 UAVs will be able to land and take off using the deck of Anadolu.[113][114] According to Baykar's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Selçuk Bayraktar, the first flight of Bayraktar TB3 will occur in 2022.[115]
Operators
Map of Bayraktar TB2 operators in blue, potential operators in purple.
Iraq: In an Iraqi TV broadcast, the Iraqi defense minister announced that Iraq will soon acquire TB2 drones and T129 ATAK helicopters. 20 drones have been ordered.[116][117]
Ukrainian Navy – The Ukrainian Navy received its first complex of Bayraktar Tactical Block 2 on 15 July 2021.[146] Four more are intended to be purchased by the end of 2022.[147]
Possible sales
Albania: On July 3, 2021, Albania has announced plans to acquire the Bayraktar TB2.[148]
Kazakhstan: On 27 November 2020, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti claims that Kazakhstan would be interested in purchasing TB2 drones at the expense of Chinese drones after seeing their successful use during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War[153]
Serbia: In October 2020, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić identified UAVs as "expensive but smart investments" and stated their interest on acquiring Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 armed drones.[158][159][160]
Specifications (Bayraktar TB2)
Bayraktar TB2 loaded with MAM LUMTAS missile used in TB2[161]
The Smart Micro Munition (MAM-L) and behind it MAM-C high explosive variantHardpoints: 4 hardpoints for laser guided smart munition, with provisions to carry combinations of :
TUBITAK-SAGE KUZGUN[171] Modular joint ammunition[172][173] KUZGUN-TjM Turkish: TjM :Turbojet MotorluTurbojet engine variant with range of 245 kilometers and KUZGUN-SS Turkish: SS: Serbest Süzülen Free Soaring variant range of 110 kilometers variants in use[174]
Avionics
Interchangeable EO/IR/LD imaging and targeting sensor systems or Multi Mode AESA Radar:
^"Libya's deadly game of drones". Arabian Aerospace. 19 March 2020. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. On July 25, several Bayraktars were used to attack and subsequently destroy two Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft operated by Ukraine's Air Europe airfreight company, at Al Jufra Air Base. A hangar was also destroyed at the base, which was being used as a key staging post for supporters of General Haftar's LNA.
^Phillips, Owen (11 January 2021). "Cessation of supply to Baykar Makina" (Press release). Hampshire, UK: Andair. Archived from the original(PDF) on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021. After investigation, Andair immediately halted supply and cancelled all orders from Baykar Makina