Türkiye’s Bayraktar TB3 drone scores new direct hit with supersonic missile

Türkiye’s Bayraktar TB3, which made aviation history as the first unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) to successfully operate from a short-runway vessel, continues to conduct firing tests with the UAV-122 Supersonic Missile across multiple operational scenarios. For the first time in warfare, a tactical-class UCAV is launching supersonic missiles from distances exceeding 50 kilometers.

On Thursday, March 27, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV took off from Dalaman, Mugla, carrying the UAV-122 Supersonic Missile, developed by Turkish defense giant Roketsan.

It successfully struck a 6-by-6-meter floating target at sea from below line-of-sight altitude. This direct hit follows the Bayraktar TB3’s initial missile firing on March 25, when it struck a target from more than 50 kilometers away.

Bayraktar TB2’s role in target designation

Once again, laser designation for the missile firing was carried out by a Bayraktar TB2 UCAV operating in the air. The target designated by the Bayraktar TB2 was successfully hit by the Bayraktar TB3, showcasing the coordinated capability of two airborne UCAVs in target engagement and laser designation.

The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, developed by Turkish defense giant Baykar, made history on November 19, 2024, by successfully taking off and landing on a short-runway vessel equipped with a 12-degree ski-jump ramp aboard the TCG Anadolu.

In a 46-minute test flight over the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, the Bayraktar TB3 became the first UCAV to land on a short runway without landing support equipment. During subsequent trials, the UCAV completed additional take-offs and landings without support equipment, further demonstrating its capabilities.

Indigenous engine breakthrough

On June 25, 2024, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV reached a major milestone, completing a High-Altitude System Performance Test at Baykar’s Flight Training and Test Center in Türkiye’s Kesan, Edirne, reaching an altitude of 36,310 feet. Powered by the domestically developed PD-170 engine by TEI, this achievement surpassed another critical milestone for the UCAV.

With a total flight time of 967 hours and 55 minutes to date, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV set a long-endurance flight record on December 20, 2023, by staying airborne for 32 hours and covering a distance of 5,700 kilometers.

On March 26, 2024, the Bayraktar TB3 flew with the ASELFLIR-500 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System, developed by Aselsan. The integration of this system, which offers superior performance compared to global counterparts, was completed successfully during the test.

Expanding Türkiye’s deterrent power

The Bayraktar TB3, with its foldable wings and advanced features, is set to be the leading unmanned aerial vehicle in its class.

Equipped with Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communication capabilities, it can operate from long distances, making it a crucial force multiplier for Türkiye’s defense power. The Bayraktar TB3 is set to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence, and strike missions using its smart munitions against overseas targets.

$1.8B record in exports, global leadership

Baykar, which finances all its projects independently, has achieved 83% of its total revenue from exports since 2003. In 2023, Baykar recorded $1.8 billion in exports, securing its place among Türkiye’s top exporters. Continuing this success in 2024, the company achieved another $1.8 billion in exports, accounting for 90% of its total revenue.

Baykar is recognized as the world’s largest UAV company. In 2021, 2022, and 2023, Baykar was Türkiye’s leader in defense and aviation industry exports, accounting for a significant portion of the sector’s total exports. With export agreements signed with 36 countries, Baykar has secured its position as a global leader in the unmanned aerial vehicle export market.