Bayraktar TB3 Drone: Turkey’s Game-Changer in Military Drone Technology

                              Bayraktar TB3: A New Era for Turkey's Military Drones

The Bayraktar TB3 drone, developed by Turkey's Baykar Technologies, has successfully completed its test flights, showcasing the country's growing influence in drone technology.

Turkey's drone manufacturing company, Baykar, announced that on November 19, 2024, their new-generation carrier-based Bayraktar TB-3 combat drone successfully completed its first short take-off and landing from Turkey's flagship aircraft carrier, the TGC Anadolu. This test was a success using their own dedicated engine technology, marking a significant milestone for this autonomous combat (UCAV) drone. It is expected to be fully operational by early 2025.

The Baykar company has developed the Bayraktar TB-3 combat drone based on the previous Bayraktar TB-2 model, incorporating more modern technology and the ability to perform autonomous short take-offs and landings. This drone is capable of flying at higher altitudes and for longer durations. Its wings can be folded after landing for efficient storage, allowing more aerial systems to be accommodated on the carrier. The first successful flight test of this drone was completed on October 27, 2023.

The drone is powered by a high-performance TEI PD-170 light engine, developed by TUSAŞ Engine Industries Inc., which produces 170 horsepower. In flight, the engine consumes 12.8 liters of diesel fuel per hour at 70% power, using Jet-A1 or EN-590 type fuel.

On May 2, 2024, Baykar completed a successful flight test of the drone at an altitude of 33,000 feet. On December 20, 2023, the drone set a rare record by flying for 32 continuous hours over a 5,700 km area. Furthermore, on March 26, 2024, it conducted an experimental surveillance mission with an ASELSAN ASELFLIR-500 electro-optical reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting system.

The Bayraktar TB-3 has a length of 8.35 meters, a height of 2.6 meters, and a wingspan of 14 meters. Its maximum take-off weight is 1,450 kg, and its maximum payload capacity is 280 kg. Its operational range is 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km), with a maximum speed of 300 km/h and a cruising speed of 232 km/h.

The Role of the Bayraktar TB3 in Modern Warfare

The drone is equipped with six hard points that can carry up to 280 kg of weapons, including missiles, laser-guided and unguided smart munitions. It can carry 70mm rockets, MAM-C, MAM-L precision-guided munitions, and 81mm mortar munitions launched from air-to-surface.

As for its avionics, the drone features a multi-mode AESA radar and interchangeable EO/IR/LD imaging and targeting sensors/pod systems. Additionally, it is equipped with ASELSAN’s ASELFLIR-500 electro-optical reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting system, allowing it to detect and track enemy targets hidden on land or at sea from great altitudes.

The drone is designed for short runway take-offs and landings, making it suitable for operations on the Turkish Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, the TGC Anadolu, which weighs 27,436 tons. Although it has not yet been fully deployed, it is expected that a small batch of these drones will be delivered to the Turkish Navy by early 2025.##Source: The Daily Sabah, The Defense Post, Wikipedia.