Türkiye’s Bayraktar TB2 breaks ground as 1st UCAV to complete autonomous spin recovery

Turkish defense giant Baykar’s Bayraktar TB2, Türkiye’s first indigenously developed unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), has become the world’s first UCAV to autonomously perform and recover from a spin maneuver—marking a historic milestone in aviation. The test, conducted by deliberately putting the aircraft into a dangerous spin mid-flight, demonstrated TB2’s ability to regain control using its advanced flight control algorithms, significantly boosting its operational reliability.

This achievement comes just months after Bayraktar TB2 became the first UAV to perform an autonomous barrel roll on May 31, 2024.

Redefining limits of all aerial platforms

With this latest maneuver, TB2 confirms its role as a global leader in unmanned aviation technology, showcasing cutting-edge maneuvering autonomy and mission continuity under extreme conditions.

Meanwhile, Haluk Gorgun, president of Defence Industries, said on his social media account that the Bayraktar TB2 redefines the limits of not only unmanned systems but also all aerial platforms with its advanced maneuver autonomy and autonomous recovery maneuver capabilities.

Next-Gen Bayraktar TB2T-AI Takes Shape

The new version of the aircraft, the turbo-powered Bayraktar TB2T-AI, is currently undergoing successful tests in Türkiye’s Edirne, Kesan.

With its enhanced AI systems, higher speed, and superior altitude performance, the TB2T-AI is set to redefine the battlefield and cement Baykar’s dominance in UCAV development.

Bayraktar TB2 has surpassed 1 million flight hours, becoming the longest-serving indigenous aircraft in Turkish aviation history. Over 150 million kilometers flown—equivalent to circling the globe 3,742 times—underscore the platform’s endurance and reliability.

Global export leader

Baykar has catapulted Türkiye to the top of the global UCAV export market, surpassing the United States, Israel, and China with a 65% global share. The TB2 has played pivotal roles in conflicts in Libya, Karabakh, and Ukraine, earning a reputation for effectiveness and cost-efficiency.

As of late 2024, Bayraktar TB2s are in active service in six NATO and four EU countries. Recent contracts with Croatia and Kuwait affirm its competitiveness in NATO and Middle Eastern markets.

Produced at the Ozdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center in Istanbul, the TB2 boasts a 93% domestic production rate—a world record in localization. Baykar develops all critical components in-house, setting a global standard in UAV manufacturing.

In 2019, the TB2 set Türkiye’s aviation endurance record with a 27-hour, 3-minute flight under extreme desert conditions and reached a national altitude record of 30,318 feet. Today, it continues to operate across continents, from Europe to Africa, in all-weather conditions.

Turkish defense giant Baykar, which has never received government R&D funding, has generated 83% of its total income from exports since 2003. In both 2023 and 2024, the company recorded $1.8 billion in exports, accounting for 90% of its revenue and one-fourth of Türkiye’s total defense exports.

Recognized as the world’s largest UAV producer, Baykar has signed export agreements with 36 countries—34 for TB2 and 11 for the advanced Bayraktar Akinci UCAV.