Baykar press release
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, which recently made history by taking off and landing on a short-runway vessel, has achieved another major milestone in its development by beginning munitions integration tests.
Yesterday (17 Jan 2025), the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV departed from the Baykar Flight Training and Test Center in Keşan, Edirne, with two Roketsan MAM-T munitions onboard. The aircraft successfully launched its first strike using Aselsan’s ASELFLIR-500 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System, hitting its designated target with pinpoint accuracy. Now an armed unmanned aerial vehicle, the Bayraktar TB3 will continue its payload and munitions integration tests as part of its ongoing development process, in line with the predetermined timeline.
One of Baykar’s indigenous and original products, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, successfully took off from the short runway of TCG Anadolu, which is equipped with a 12-degree ramp, on November 19, 2024. After completing a 46-minute test flight at the intersection of the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean, the aircraft landed back on the same short runway without any landing support equipment—an unprecedented achievement worldwide. Shortly after, the Bayraktar TB3 continued its sea trials, completing a second takeoff and landing sequence aboard TCG Anadolu off the coast of Çanakkale, again without landing support equipment. Baykar’s indigenous UCAV, having passed all test parameters, successfully completed the test after cruising at an average altitude of 20,000 feet.
TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH AN INDIGENOUS ENGINE
On June 25, 2024, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV successfully passed its High-Altitude System Performance Test at the Baykar Flight Training and Test Center in Keşan, Edirne, reaching an altitude of 36,310 feet. Powered by TEI’s indigenous PD-170 engine, Baykar’s homegrown aircraft achieved yet another significant milestone. The Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV, also developed indigenously by Baykar, currently holds Türkiye’s altitude record with a remarkable 45,118 feet.
887+ FLIGHT HOURS
To date, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV has accumulated 887 hours and 23 minutes of flight time during its test flights. In a long-range flight test on December 20, 2023, the indigenous aircraft remained airborne for 32 consecutive hours, covering a total distance of 5,700 kilometers.
INDIGENOUS UCAV, INDIGENOUS CAMERA
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV completed its first flight with Aselsan’s indigenous ASELFLIR-500 on March 26, 2024. During the test, the ASELFLIR-500 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System— which outperforms its global competitors—was successfully integrated into the aircraft.
OVERSEAS FORCE MULTIPLIER
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV will lead its class with its foldable wings and advanced capabilities. Equipped with beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communication, this indigenous aircraft can be controlled from distant locations. With this capability, the Bayraktar TB3 will serve as a force multiplier for Türkiye’s deterrence, enabling it to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence, and strike missions against overseas targets using its smart munitions.
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About Bayraktar TB3
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV is an armed unmanned aerial vehicle system, currently being developed indigenously by Baykar and capable of takeoff and landing on short runway aircraft carriers. Besides reconnaissance/surveillance and intelligence missions, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV can launch an assault operation with the smart munitions stationed under its wings.
The Bayraktar TB3 can conduct armed operations overseas due in part to custom capabilities, like foldable wings that enable use on aircraft carriers.
The Bayraktar TB3 can be operated from very remote distances thanks to its Line-Of-Sight and Beyond-Line-Of-Sight communications capabilities.
Specifications:
- 8.35 Meter Length
- 14 Meters Wingspan
- 1450 Kilograms Maximum Take Off Weight
- 125 knots-160 knots Cruise Speed – Maximum Speed
- 280 Kilograms Payload Capacity
- 24+ Hours Endurance
Author’s comment
TCG Anadolu‘s air power will primarily consist of the armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UCAVs) it carries. While initially envisioned for small-scale strike operations, the expanding capabilities of these drones are transforming their operational impact. Their weapon portfolios are diversifying, their operational ranges are increasing, and the warheads they carry are growing in power, enhancing their potential effectiveness in modern naval warfare.
For instance, the range of the MAM-T smart munition, varying between 30–80 km depending on the firing altitude, exceeds the standoff range of many ship-based air defense systems. When considering that TCG Anadolu is expected to simultaneously control approximately 10 UCAVs in the air, this configuration significantly amplifies its air force capabilities, far surpassing the limits of small-scale operations.
As unmanned systems become critical elements of the future battlefield, their evolving capabilities are set to further complicate naval warfare. Turkey is at the forefront of this trend, advancing its naval and drone technologies and positioning itself as a leader in shaping the future of naval combat. TCG Anadolu represents a bold step in integrating these innovations into its defense strategy, signaling a transformative approach to maritime operations.
