Latest news with #BayraktarTB3
India.com
4 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Turkey's killer drones to shape future wars, make fighter jets obsolete? Baykar CEO claims..., concern for India due to...
Baykar's Kizilelma UCAV is being touted as a game-changer. Kizilelma drone: Advanced military drones will shape the outcome of future wars and eventually make human-piloted fighter jets obsolete, Haluk Bayraktar, CEO of Turkish drone manufacturing giant Baykar Defense, has asserted. In an interview with The Atlantic, Haluk Bayraktar, the son-in-law of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stated that future wars will be completely unmanned and will be fought with advanced military drones. 'Today, there are about 13,000 manned fighter jets in the world. But in the coming years, all these platforms will gradually become unmanned. Even if this replacement is not like a drone from a fighter plane, that is, a fighter jet would be replaced by not one drone, but by deploying 3 to 5 drone platforms. The direction is clear, wars will now be in the hands of machines instead of humans,' Bayraktar said. Turkey emerging as global drone powerhouse Baykar Defense, once a small drones maker, has emerged as one of the world's fastest growing defense manufacturers in recent years, with its battle-tested Bayraktar TB2 drone now recognized as a formidable aerial force after its performance in Syria, Russia-Ukraine war, and the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict. Currently, Baykar Defense is developing Bayraktar TB3 drone, the new and advanced successor to the Bayraktar TB2 killer drone, as well as the AKINCI and the ambitious KIZILELMA drone project. Haluk Bayraktar, who is married to Sümeyye Erdoğan– the daughter of Recep Tayyip Erdogan– asserted that Turkey's defense industry is growing at a rapid pace and his company has the capacity to produce 250 Bayraktar TB2 drones each year. Baykar is also working to build 50 AKINCI UCAVs per year, and work is underway to the double the manufacturing capacity for Bayraktar TB3 and KIZILELMA UCAVs, Haluk said. What is the Kizilelma project and why it could change future warfare? The Kizilelma UCAV is arguably Baykar's most ambitious drone project till date. The Kizilelma, which is being developed by Baykar Defense under Turkey's broader defense program, Project MIUS, is a jet-powered, single-engine, low-observable, carrier-capable unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). Designed with advanced AI and autonomous flight capabilities, including autonomous take-off and landing on carriers, station-controlled missions, and even autonomous dogfighting, Kizilelma has semi-stealth capabilities due to a low radar cross-section, and boasts a service ceiling for 13,716 meters (45,000 feet), and an operational altitude of (7,620 meters) 25,000 feet. The Kizilelma UCAV is designed to operate from aircraft carriers, including short-runway carriers, and can carry various types of armaments, including missiles, laser-guided munitions, long-range cruise missiles, with its stated payload capacity of 1.5 tonnes. The UCAV can reach a maximum speed of Mach 0.9, and can Mach 0.6, according to details. Haluk Bayraktar described the Kizilelma as an independent fighter rather than a wingman (support drones that accompany fighter jets), which could replace manned fighters in the near future. Notably, an advanced UCAV like Kizilelma drone costs around $5 million to $10 million, significantly cheaper than a fighter jet, which can run to $100 million- $150 million for a 5th-gen aircraft like the F-35. Additionally, the maintenance costs of UCAVs are much lower than fighter planes, making them an enticing option for countries with lower defence budgets. Why India should be concerned? During the recent India-Pakistan conflict, Pakistani forces launched more than 400 drones, most of them Turkish made towards India, but all of them were successfully shot down by India's layered air defense system. The Pakistani drones included the Turkish Bayraktar TB2s, Byker YIHA III kamikaze drones, Songatri and eYatri loitering munitions, but every single one was shot down with100 percent accuracy by India's homegrown Akashteer air defence system, according to Indian armed forces. However, the drone barrage by Pakistan provided a glimpse of how a future India-Pakistan war would be fought, and experts stress that India must develop an indigenous drone manufacturing industry to prepare for such a scenario.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Turkish government racks up naval, drone deals during Asia trip
ISTANBUL — President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's trip to Asia has yielded a number of defense cooperation agreements meant to bring new business to Turkish defense companies. Earlier this week, Erdoğan visited Malaysia and Indonesia before moving on to Pakistan. He is accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, and Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat. In the first stop of the delegation's visit to Malaysia, a total of 11 agreements were signed between the two countries. One of them was a preliminary acceptance letter for the procurement of multipurpose mission ships between Desan Shipyard and the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs. The commercial value of the contract has not been disclosed by the parties involved. The Malaysian government said the vessel is expected to be fully operational in the first quarter of 2027, and it will be capable of operating continuously for 30 days. Its onboard features include a helideck, two aerial drones and four fast interceptor boats. 'This 99-meter-long vessel, capable of carrying 70 crew members and 30 passengers, will focus on monitoring activities in the South China Sea, particularly in countering foreign vessel intrusions, illegal fishing activities, and cross-border crimes such as smuggling and human trafficking,' a senior navy official said. The shipbuilding project is an addition to the continuing LMS batch 2 corvette construction project in Turkey, led by STM shipyard. In the second leg of his trip, Erdoğan visited Indonesia, where leaders from both nations signed 13 agreements. Among them was a joint venture pact between Republikorp and Baykar for the construction of a drone factory in Indonesia. According to the press release by Republikorp, the joint firm will focus on manufacturing and maintaining unmanned aerial vehicles. The primary products to be localized include up to 60 sets of Bayraktar TB3 and up to nine sets of Bayraktar Akinci drones. Baykar will contribute its expertise in manufacturing, technology transfer and training, while Republikorp will ensure regulatory compliance, infrastructure development, local expert certification, and integration into Indonesia's defense ecosystem.
Ya Biladi
05-02-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco receives a batch of Turkish Akinci drones
The Royal Armed Forces have taken delivery of their first batch of Akinci drones, produced by the Turkish manufacturer Baykar. According to the FAR Maroc Forum, these advanced drones are expected to be operational shortly. The Akinci drone represents a significant leap in military technology, particularly within Turkish defense innovations. This unmanned aerial vehicle boasts a 24-hour flight endurance and a range of 6,000 kilometers, with the capability to carry up to 1,500 kg of weaponry. This acquisition underscores the growing collaboration between the Royal Air Forces and Baykar. The Turkish company plans to establish a military-industrial unit in the Benslimane region, dedicated to assembling and manufacturing a special type of drone not yet available, as reported by the same source. Baykar's president, Selçuk Bayraktar, who is also the son-in-law of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, attended the 2024 Marrakech Air Show from October 30 to November 2. During the event, he showcased the Bayraktar TB3 drone and engaged in discussions with Morocco's Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour. Since September 2021, the FAR have maintained a fleet of Bayraktar TB2 drones. Additionally, the Turkish defense firm Aselsan has expressed interest in entering the Moroccan market, further indicating the strengthening ties between Turkish defense companies and Morocco.
