Latest news with #BayraktarTB2
India.com
a day ago
- Business
- India.com
Turkey's Double Game Uncovered: How Ankara Betrayed Russia While Wooing The West
New Delhi: Turkey has played a dangerous double game. This time, not only with India but with Russia as well. Ankara secretly armed Ukraine with deadly Bayraktar TB2 drones, which Kyiv used to destroy at least 40 Russian fighter jets last week, even while publicly maintaining ties with the Kremlin. This military support came at a time when Turkey was giving Russian tourists and companies a safe haven by defying Western sanctions. But behind the scenes, it was also cozying up to the United States and the NATO. Analysts believe the drone supply was Turkey's way of winning points with Washington, even if it meant putting a knife in Putin's back. Drone Diplomacy or Deception? The Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 has become one of the world's most lethal combat drones. It is sleek in design and deadly in execution and can carry out both precision strikes and surveillance. Ukraine received 72 drones between 2019 and 2022. Turkey allegedly sent eight more units after the war began. These drones have allowed Ukraine to carry out devastating attacks deep inside Russian territory and damage or destroy more than 40 Russian military aircraft. Why is Turkey Doing This? Experts suggest Turkey's real motive lies not in helping Ukraine win the war but in pleasing the United States and NATO. As a NATO member, Turkey constantly faces pressure from the West to cut ties with Moscow. Supplying drones gave it a way to appear loyal to the alliance, even while pretending to be neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war. Ironically, this is the same Turkey that has opposed Western sanctions against Russia, kept its airspace open to Russian tourists and allowed Russian businesses to relocate to Turkish soil. Russia Feels Betrayed For Moscow, the drone revelation is nothing short of a betrayal. Kremlin officials have reportedly called it a 'stab in the back'. Russia now sees Turkey's diplomatic double-speak as a strategic threat. President Putin, who had maintained a working relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan despite geopolitical differences, is said to be furious over Ankara's duplicity. Meanwhile, Turkey is attempting to position itself as a mediator in the global arena, claiming it wants peace while arming one side in a war. Trust Lost on All Fronts This latest episode has also damaged Turkey's standing with India. New Delhi has long suspected Ankara of siding with Pakistan on Kashmir, and this fresh betrayal of Russia, a close Indian defense ally, only adds to the mistrust. In trying to play all sides, Muslim world 'leader', Western ally and 'neutral' peace broker, Turkey may end up losing the trust of all. As global tensions rise, Ankara's balancing act is looking less like diplomacy and more like deception. Despite overt ties with Russia, Turkey's covert support to Ukraine has exposed a major fault line in global diplomacy. For India and Russia, this may serve as a warning that Erdogan's Turkey is no longer a reliable partner.
India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
How India destroyed China's lethal PL-15 missile, Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone during Op Sindoor using...
India's Akashteer air defense system shot down more than 400 Turkish-made drones during Operation Sindoor, including the Bayraktar TB2. (File) India-Pakistan tensions: Pakistan launched two of its most lethal foreign-made weapons– Chinese PL-15 missiles, and Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 military during the recent India-Pakistan military conflict, but Islamabad, China, Turkey, and indeed many world nations received a rude awakening when these deadly armament were quickly turned to scrap metal by 'Akashteer'– India's homegrown air defense system. How Akashteer downed every Turkish drone fired by Pakistan According to Indian armed forces, the Akashteer system shot down every single drone launched by Pakistan—including the much-hyped Bayraktar TB2s, Byker YIHA III kamikaze drones, Songatri and eYatri loitering munitions– with 100 percent accuracy during Operation Sindoor. 'Not a single drone reached its target,' Times of India quoted an Indian Air Force officer as saying. The Akashteer air defense system, developed indigenously by the state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), is hailed by many experts as India's answer to the Israel's famous Iron Dome, but the Indian system is considered better suited for low-altitude drone warfare compared to the Israeli AD. The indigenously-built air defense (AD) system has achieved seamless integration with the Russian-made S-400 Triumf– India's long-range missile defense system– radars, and weapons systems. The Akash air defense system is capable of automatic detection of aerial threats, and intercepting them in real time. 'Akashteer did not roar or flash, it simply calculated, executed and destroyed. Quiet precision was its loudest weapon,' according to a military official. As per defense sources, more than 400 Turkish drones were shot down by Akash AD, and their wreckage now litters the areas near the Line of Control (LoC). End of Erdogan's drone power ambitions? The catastrophic failure of Turkish drones, especially the much-touted Bayraktar TB2, is a major setback to the ambitions of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of making Turkey a global player in arms exports. 'Erdogan can sell anything – religion, weapons or dreams – to enrich his family. But the product is junk now. Baykar stopped innovating the moment it felt safe under government backing,' according to Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute. Reports claim the mass decimation of Turkey's drones by India during Operation Sindoor has put Ankara's drone deals across the globe, from Africa to the Middle East, in jeopardy, and even Pakistan is allegedly mulling to cancel future orders. Pakistan had fired the Turkish drones in hopes of breaching India's air defenses, but IAF's integrated systems, including L70 guns and Akashteer radars, ensured the UAVs never even got close. PL-15 wreckage now India's geopolitical prize Meanwhile, the spectacular burnout of China's PL-15 air-to-air missile, which crash landed intact inside Indian territory, was a shocking outcome for China as the missile is one of the most advanced in Beijing's arsenal. Now, India is proudly flaunting the PL-15 wreckage as a sort of geopolitical prize, even as world powers, including the United States, France, United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan and Australia, have reportedly lined to study the tech used by the Chinese missile, especially its dual motor. According to sources, India might have already handed the missile wreckage to to Japan for analysis.
India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Bayraktar, PL-15 Burnout: How India Turned Deadly Turkish Drone, Deadly Chinese Missiles Into Global Exhibit
New Delhi: Once a weapon fails to create its impact, its value drops to dust in the world of warfare. And that is exactly what happened when Pakistan deployed two of its most powerful foreign weapons against India only to watch them fail catastrophically. During its latest clash with India, Pakistan launched China's cutting-edge PL-15 missile and Turkey's hyped Bayraktar TB2 drones. But India did not only defend itself, it flipped the script. Touted as one of the most advanced in Beijing's arsenal, PL-15 air-to-air missile was intercepted intact by Indian forces. That wreckage is now a geopolitical prize. Countries like the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan and Australia are reportedly lining up to study the missile's tech. Sources suggest India may have already handed it over to Japan for analysis, effectively exposing China's deadliest missile to the world. In what can only be described as a humiliating defeat for Turkish defense exports, Pakistan's use of Bayraktar TB2 drones during 'Operation Sindoor' turned into a disaster. India's indigenous 'Akashtir' air defense system shot down every single drone with 100% accuracy, including Bayraktar TB2s, Byker YIHA III kamikaze drones, Songatri and eYatri loitering munitions. 'Not a single drone reached its target,' confirmed a senior Indian Air Force officer to The Times of India. Developed by the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), Akashtir is being hailed as India's version of Israel's Iron Dome but potentially even better suited for low-altitude drone warfare. It integrates seamlessly with India's existing radar and weapons systems, detects threats autonomously and assigns weapons in real time. Against Pakistan's swarm drone strategy, it proved deadly effective. A defense official said, 'Akashtir did not roar or flash, it simply calculated, executed and destroyed. Quiet precision was its loudest weapon.' The failure of Turkish drones has shaken the foundations of President Erdogan's defense ambitions. For years, he touted the Bayraktar as a symbol of Islamic military resurgence and Turkish innovation. But India's clean takedown has now put Turkey's global drone deals – from Africa to the Middle East – in jeopardy. Reports suggest Pakistan may cancel future orders, and countries fearing Turkish drones may now turn to India's Akashtir instead. Even Turkish defense insiders are rattled. Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute bluntly stated, 'Erdogan can sell anything – religion, weapons or dreams – to enrich his family. But the product is junk now. Baykar stopped innovating the moment it felt safe under government backing.' Pakistan had banked on hundreds of Turkish drones to breach Indian air defenses. But after this spectacular failure, the Islamabad-Ankara arms axis is in crisis. Sources say Turkey's aim was to use these drones to cover artillery and fighter jets, but India's integrated air defense systems, including L70 guns and Akashtir radars, ensured the drones never even got close. The skies over the LoC are now littered with the wreckage of over 400 Turkish drones – a dramatic symbol of India's superiority in air defense. What's Next for India and Turkey? Turkey is scrambling to save face. Meanwhile, India is planning to triple its investment in drone technology over the next two years. Akashtir's success is being closely watched by nations facing drone threats, and new export deals could soon be on the table for India. Back in Pakistan, the military is rebuilding its airfields, but the damage is done. The defeat is too big to hide and too costly to ignore. India did not just win a battle. It exposed China's missile secrets, destroyed Turkey's drone credibility and put Pakistan's war doctrine in disarray. In the world of defense tech, perception is power and right now, India holds the high ground.
India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
How India broke the web of Turkey's most-famous Bayraktar drones, Erdogan is now worried because...
Bayraktar TB2 (File) How India destroyed Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 drones: Due to the massive success of Akash air defence system and Akashteer intelligent warfare, a sense of panic has spread across the US. However, there is another country which actively helped India's enemy during the recent India-Pakistan tensions and as a result, it's defence industry has taken a massive hit. Reports have it that Pakistan used Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 drone during its recent conflict with India. In order to counter the drone threat, the Indian Armed Forces shot down all the drones received from Turkey by Pakistan using the indigenous 'Akashteer' air defense system. About Akashteer air defense system Akashteer is a vehicle-based air defence system designed to automate detection, tracking and engagement of enemy aircraft, drones and missiles. It integrates various radar systems, sensors and communication technologies into a single operational framework. With its intelligent warfare capabilities, Akashteer showcased India's dominance in real-time, automated air defence warfare. As per a report by PIB, Akashteer is part of the broader C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) framework, working in coordination with other systems. How India destroyed Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 drones Media reports have said that the Akashteer air defense system was extensively used to counter Turkish drone threat during the recent India-Pakistan tensions. A senior army official was quoted as saying by a Navbharat Times report that 'not even a single drone was able to achieve its target'. Pakistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan set to strengthen anti-India nexus The growing nexus between Islamabad-Ankara-Baku is expected to deepen and broaden further during the visit of Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Azerbaijan after concluding his ongoing visit to Iran. According to reports, a trilateral summit of Pakistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan is expected to be held in Lachin, a strategic city that connects Azerbaijan to Armenia, in the next 48 hours to take 'important decisions on joint strategies' in several fields, including defence. (With inputs from agencies)
India Today
19-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Who has armed drones?
More countries than ever now operate armed drones that can surveil, loiter and strike across borders, without sending a single soldier. At least 48 nations possess medium-altitude and long-endurance (MALE) systems, a class of military drones typified by the US MQ-9 Reaper and Turkey's Bayraktar TB2. This global shift has redrawn the map of remote has become the top supplier of armed MALE drones, surpassing the US and IT MATTERS?Drones change how wars are fought, often without troops crossing borders. According to a website called that tracks drone-related data and analysis, Turkey has emerged as the world's leading exporter of armed MALE drones. Since 2021, it has supplied these systems to at least 28 countries, more than China (14), the US (six) and Iran (three) Bayraktar TB2, Turkey's flagship drone, is now being operated across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. This marks a shift in global defence supply chains - from traditional Western dominance to new regional powers shaping how modern wars are NUMBERSAs many as 48 countries now operate armed MALE least 28 of them were supplied by many as 14 countries received drones from countries from the US and three from least 15 countries use drones within their countries have carried out cross-border drone DEPTHadvertisementThe use of MALE drones has expanded rapidly. These drones can loiter for over 24 hours and strike targets with precision. MALE drones like the Bayraktar TB2, Wing Loong and MQ-9 Reaper are no longer exclusive to major March 2025, 48 countries had acquired armed MALE drones. While early adopters like the US (2001) and Israel (2004) developed their systems, most states acquired drones through imports. The trend accelerated after 2021, driven by Turkey, which has supplied MALE drones to 28 countries, including first-time operators, like Kenya, Bangladesh and has exported to 14 countries, mainly Africa and the Middle East. Only a handful of countries, such as Iran, Israel, China, Turkey and the US have developed MALE drones domestically. The rest rely entirely on foreign countries, including Ukraine, Morocco and Ethiopia, operate drones from multiple sources, signalling a shift toward mixed growth is in hardware and capability: More countries are using drones for cross-border strikes or internal security, making them an integral part of modern military has become a key player in the global drone landscape, not just as a supplier but as a military innovator. In a widely publicised test in early 2025, a Turkish-made TB3 drone successfully launched from and landed on the TCG Anadolu, the country's first aircraft carrier. Nato sees Turkey as a crucial defence member and partner, especially as tensions with Russia Watch
