Turkish UCAV planning to pioneer in using short runways
By News Center
Baykar Technology CEO Selcuk Bayraktar has said that the Turkish Bayraktar TB3 will be the world’s first unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) to use short runways, Yeni Shafak reports.
Bayraktar made the remarks at an event dedicated to the National Technology Move organized at Istanbul Technical University, the report adds.
During his presentation, Bayraktar touched upon the newly-developed Bayraktar TB3, planned to be the world’s first UCAV, capable of landing and taking off on short-runway naval platforms.
“Although yesterday, an American company announced that it will do it [to produce UCAVs] first for ships with short runways, but let’s see who will do it first,” Bayraktar stressed.
Speaking about Baykar’s activities, the CEO emphasized that contracts had been signed with over 20 countries for the export of Baykar-manufactured unmanned platforms, adding that these unmanned platforms have been actively used in 13 countries.
He said that like other Turkish defense industry products, the Bayraktar TB3 and Kizilelma combat aircraft will change the history of warfare once they are operational.
Stating that over 95 percent of Baykar’s revenues come from exports, the CEO added that Bayraktar TB2 is the most exported UCAV in the world, which has the highest price and performance level.
Recently, the US General Atomics Company introduced its MQ-9B STOL UCAV for the first time.
In the meantime, Turkey continues to work on its domestic National Combat Aircraft project. Turkish defense industry companies began to transfer their experience and knowledge to the Turkish Aerospace Industries' National Combat Aircraft (TAI). The aircraft, which is expected to be released from the hangar in 2023, has been ordered.
Baykar is a private Turkish defense company specializing in UAVs and artificial intelligence, which was founded with 100 percent domestic capital in 1984 under Baykar Makina by Ozdemir Bayraktar.
The company’s primary goals were the production of automotive parts such as engines, pumps, and spare parts to ensure the localization of the automotive industry in Turkey.
In the 2000s, the company took steps toward producing unmanned aerial vehicles in line with the developments and progress in the aviation sector.
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