Turkish companies now control 65% of the global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market, Selcuk Bayraktar, chief technology officer of Turkish drone giant Baikal, said on Thursday.
Baykar alone commands nearly 60% of the market.
bayraktar credited Baikal's cooperation with the Turkish government has enabled the company to quickly gain an advantage in UAV technology. Selcuk Bayraktar happened to be married It was given to the daughter of Türkiye's authoritarian president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“In 2004, Baikal developed Turkey's first robotic guidance system and the first small UAV, at a time when UAVs were still unknown to the world,” he recalled.
Subsequently, Baikal delivered an unmanned aerial vehicle called Kizilerma to the Turkish government in 2022, one year ahead of schedule, and the famous Bayraktar TB series of ground attack drones, which have become one of the most popular weapons products in the world. Further progress continued. rear brave performance In the conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russia and Ukraine.
Bayraktar's drones were so devastating in the hands of Ukrainian defenders that Russian President Vladimir Putin attempted to attack them. pressure Turkey bans platform sales to Ukraine. President Erdoğan rejected Putin's request.
Bayraktar TB-2 is the system that set the world, and many Russian tanks, on fire. Speaking at a drone industry event in Istanbul on Thursday, Selcuk Bayraktar said the TB-3 is similarly innovative, boasting the ability to take off and land from ships with short runways.
Last month, TB-3 successfully both landed and took off from the TCG. anadolu Türkiye's most advanced unmanned aircraft carrier. Selcuk Bayraktar praised the achievement on social media.
“Bayraktar TB3 has become the world's first combat UAV platform that can take off and land from ships with short runways. The first tests were carried out last month. Bayraktar TB3 has also started mass production,” he said on Thursday.
Pakistan and Bangladesh are among the latest customers for the Bayraktar TB2 drone, which has become a rival to India. I'm very nervous. The Indian military recently warned that it would immediately shoot down any Bangladeshi-made TB2s found drifting across the border.
At the end of November, the Sudanese army announced The company had been deploying TB2 drones against rival militia groups called Rapid Support Forces (RSF). brutal Sudanese civil war.
Another product that attracted attention at the Istanbul event was Bayraktar Akincia long-range, high-endurance UAV that can carry enough weapons to engage ground facilities and ships at sea. Guided by satellite navigation, Akinci can remain airborne for up to 24 hours at a time.
Akinci was originally developed for the Turkish military, but Baikal now exports it to customers in 10 countries, including Pakistan and Morocco. Morocco's first delivery Ammunition compatible with Akinci drones will be announced in February.
“Baikal has prepared for tomorrow's race, not yesterday's or today's race,” he said, adding that the company's philosophy has helped it grow to three times the size of its closest U.S. competitor. he boasted.
Wednesday, Baikal announced The TB2 drone has accumulated more than 1 million flight hours, making it the first Turkish fighter jet to surpass that milestone.
