Türkiye’s UAV industry controls 65% of global market, Baykar reveals
Bayraktar TB2 UAV. (Baykar Photo)
Türkiye now controls 65% of the global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market, Selcuk Bayraktar, chairman and chief technology officer of Baykar, announced Thursday.
Speaking at the Take Off Istanbul event, Bayraktar highlighted Türkiye’s growing dominance in the UAV sector. He credited Baykar’s Bayraktar TB2, which first flew in 2014, with propelling the country’s entry into the global UAV market.
The Bayraktar AKINCI, introduced in 2019, further solidified Türkiye’s position as a leading player in the industry.
Bayraktar noted that the Bayraktar AKINCI has already been exported to 10 countries, while the Bayraktar TB2 holds the distinction of being the most-exported unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) worldwide.
Baykar, which holds a significant portion of Türkiye’s UAV market share, commands nearly 60% of the global UAV market in large platforms.
Bayraktar also recounted the company’s early innovations, including the development of Türkiye’s first robotic guidance system and mini UAV in 2004, at a time when UAVs were little known internationally.
The company’s achievements extend beyond commercial drones. Bayraktar also highlighted Türkiye’s Kizilelma, the country’s first unmanned combat aircraft, which made its first flight ahead of schedule in 2022.
Additionally, Baykar’s Bayraktar TB3, which made its first flight in 2023, became the world’s first combat UAV capable of taking off and landing from short-runway ships. Mass production of the Bayraktar TB3 has now commenced.
“Baykar has been the world’s largest UAV company for the last three years and is now three times larger than its closest American competitor,” Bayraktar said. “We are preparing for the future, not yesterday or today.”
The Take Off Istanbul summit, held annually since 2018, continues to be a key event for global tech leaders and investors. This year’s event, held from Wednesday to Thursday, brought together participants from 25 countries, with startups from 23 countries showcasing innovations and forging valuable international partnerships.
