Bayraktar TB2 completes autonomous barrel rolls – an unprecedented achievement in the history of world aviation.

Keşan, Edirne – 31 May 2024

The indigenous UCAV Bayraktar TB2, which has pioneered in Turkish aviation history, successfully performed the autonomous barrel roll maneuver during test flights –another first in world aviation history.

FIRST AND ONLY UCAV WORLDWIDE

Bayraktar TB2, cruising in the sky for maneuver tests, made its mark yet again in world aviation history by executing this maneuver by following a spiral trajectory and completing a full turn around its own axis. The first and only armed UAV to perform that maneuver, Bayraktar TB2 showcased its advanced autonomous and aerodynamic capabilities. Bayraktar TB2’s historic performance was filmed by a second Bayraktar TB2, which was conducting a test flight, and a Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV returning from a firing test in Konya.

THREE OUT OF THREE

Bayraktar TB2 made three attempts to successfully perform the autonomous barrel role during today’s tests and completed all three attempts successfully. The barrel roll, an important escape maneuvers performed especially by fighter jets, was never performed by a UCAV before. During the barrel roll, the aircraft follows a spiral trajectory in the air.

800,000 FLIGHT HOURS

Meanwhile, Bayraktar TB2 UCAV already logged more than 800,000 flight hours. Approaching the million-hour mark, Bayraktar TB2 remains the leading indigenous aircraft in terms of total mission duration.

JOINED THE INVENTORY IN 2014

Developed by Baykar, the developer of Türkiye’s indigenous UCAV systems, and widely considered the best aircraft in its class based on its technical specifications and past operations, Bayraktar TB2 joined the Turkish Armed Forces inventory in 2014. The system, which was equipped with weapons in 2015, continues to serve in sensitive operations by the Turkish Armed Forces, the Gendarmerie, the National Police and the National Intelligence Organization. Türkiye’s security forces have been using Bayraktar TB2 to combat terrorists at home and abroad since 2014.

DONATION CAMPAIGNS IN SEVEN COUNTRIES

The Ukrainian military has been actively deploying Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs for defensive purposes throughout the Russo-Ukrainian war. Citizens of Lithuania, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Norway, Spain and Canada previously organized donation campaigns to purchase Bayraktar TB2 for the purpose of donating them to the Ukrainian army. Baykar refused to take the amount raised in Lithuania, Ukraine and Poland for Bayraktar TB2, instead donating it toward humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

RECORD LEVEL OF INDIGENOUSNESS

Having developed indigenous and original software and hardware for unmanned aerial vehicles with its Turkish engineers since the early 2000s, Baykar remains one of the world’s leading technology companies with its capabilities across 13 different branches of engineering. Bayraktar TB2s, whose critical components, design and software are developed by Baykar indigenously and originally, are manufactured at the Özdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center in Istanbul. The local industry accounts for 93 percent of the aircraft – a world record. 

HOLDER OF RECORDS

The Bayraktar TB2 UCAV broke a record by remaining airborne for 27 hours and 3 minutes during its July 16, 2019 demo flight in Kuwait despite high temperatures and challenges like sandstorms. Baykar’s indigenous UCAVs continue to perform in many different parts of the world, from Europe to Africa, in the face of desert heat, freezing cold, snow and storms. Bayraktar TB2 holds the endurance record and altitude record (27,030 ft) in Turkish aviation for the tactical class.

MADE ITS MARK ON OPERATION OLIVE BRANCH

Bayraktar TB2 played an active role in the Turkish military’s domestic and cross-border operations like Operations Trench, Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch. According to defense experts, Türkiye’s indigenous UCAVs were among the main reasons for the swiftness of those operations and the low casualty rates. In particular, Bayraktar TB2 logged 5,300 flight hours, more than 90 percent of all flights, within the scope of Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.

MONITORING THE BLUE HOMELAND

Having served in countless counter-terror operations to date, Bayraktar TB2s continue to play a key role in operations targeting the so-called leaders of the separatist terrorist organization. At the same time, they play their part in defending the Blue Homeland. In the past, Bayraktar TB2s accompanied Türkiye’s drillships in the Eastern Mediterranean. Moreover, the aircraft completed a historic mission on December 16, 2019 by taking off from the Dalaman Navy Air Base and landing in Geçitkale Airport to be stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

ON DUTY IN THE AFTERMATH OF EARTHQUAKES

Bayraktar TB2 has also made significant contributions to post-disaster response. On January 24, 2020, the aircraft reached the area affected by the 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Sivrice, Elazığ within 25 minutes, instantly delivering footage and information to Ankara and local crisis command centers. In the wake of the February 6, 2023 earthquakes, known as the Disaster of the Century, 42 Bayraktar TB2s (including 8 TB2 with Baykar Rapid Mapping Pods) served for 2417 hours and six minutes. In addition to supporting search and rescue efforts from above, Bayraktar TB2s helped control heavy traffic on the roads and facilitated seamless aid delivery.

HELPS RESCUE MIGRANTS

Bayraktar TB2s monitor irregular migration in the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean from above, making significant contributions to saving the lives of countless migrants and documenting human rights violations such as pushbacks.

LOCATED A LOST TOURIST ON MT. ULUDAĞ

At the same time, Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs actively participate in search and rescue operations in the great outdoors. On December 31, 2021, the aircraft helped locate Yusuf Sepehizade, a Danish tourist, on Mt. Uludağ despite inclement weather. A Bayraktar TB2 reporting to the Gendarmerie took off from Aydın to find the Danish tourist when local teams could not locate him due to severe weather events. The tourist was subsequently rescued by the local teams.

DETECTING WILDFIRES

In addition to national security and humanitarian aid, Bayraktar TB2s are deployed as part of the fight against forest fires. In cooperation with the General Directorate of Forestry, Bayraktar TB2s have been playing an active role in the early detection and containment of wildfires since 2020. During that period, the aircraft single-handedly detected 3,166 forest fires – which led to the deployment of high-tech drones to fight wildfires in Europe. Stationed at several centers selected by the General Directorate, Bayraktar TB2 serve under the coordination Baykar’s expert teams. Utilizing Baykar’s own software and tech infrastructure, the aircraft scans up to 400 km² per tour and detects emerging fires from 185 kilometers away. Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs helped put off 345 fires in 2020, 267 fires in 2021, 1109 fires in 2022, and 1445 fires in 2023. Thanks to its contributions, Türkiye’s average response time to wildfires dropped from 45 minutes to 11 minutes.

GLOBAL ACCLAIM

Bayraktar TB2s not only improved the Turkish military’s recon and surveillance capabilities during Operation Peace Spring but also destroyed a large number of targets successfully. During Operation Spring Shield, in turn, Bayraktar TB2s flew for the first time as fleets, eliminating many armored vehicles, howitzers, multi-barrel rocket launchers, and air defense systems. The aircraft accounted for 80 percent of all missions performed by aerial vehicles during Operation Spring Shield, where armed UAVs were deployed as a primary element for the first time worldwide in the battlefield. Having successfully served during the Turkish operation in Idlib, Syria despite electronic countermeasures, Bayraktar TB2s logged more than 2,000 hours. The aircraft made headlines globally by becoming the first armed UAVs to fly as a fleet.

THE LIBERATION OF KARABAKH

Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs played a major role in helping Azerbaijan end the 30-year occupation of Karabakh. The country launched an operation on September 27, 2020 to liberate Karabakh from Armenia’s occupation. 44 days later, on 10 November, the Azerbaijani military ended the Armenian occupation to seize control of Karabakh. During the operation, the country used Bayraktar TB2s, indigenously and originally developed by Baykar, on all fronts. According to studies confirmed by defense analysts, Bayraktar TB2s destroyed many Armenian air defense systems, radar systems, tanks, armored vehicles, trucks, arsenals, positions and units. In response to Azerbaijan’s surprising victory, the global media commented that Turkish drones had changed the course of combat history. The Karabakh operation went down in the history of warfare as the first war won by UCAVs.

UKRAINIAN CHILDREN NAMED “BAYRAKTAR”

Thanks to its success in the Russo-Ukrainian war, which erupted in February 2022, Bayraktar TB2 became a hero in the eyes of the Ukrainian people, shifting the balance of power as a force multiplier. The unmanned aircraft, which came to be mentioned in popular anthems and inspire toys, also gave its name to Radio Bayraktar as newborn boys were named “Bayraktar.” In addition to its impact in Ukraine, Bayraktar TB2 became a symbol of hope as its success showcased its impact, proving the fact that it was indeed the best aircraft in its class.

IN NATO AND EU SKIES

Outperforming its American, European and Chinese opponents, Baykar signed a $370-million deal with Kuwait’s Defense Ministry to kick off the year 2023. Meanwhile, following an export deal with Romania, Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs joined the inventories of five NATO allies and three EU members.

EXPORT CHAMPION

Having self-financed all its projects since the beginning, Baykar generated 83% of its entire revenue since launching the R&D process for drones in 2003. According to the Turkish Exporters Assembly, it led the country’s defense and aerospace industry in exports in 2021 and 2022. Baykar, which was announced as the export champion of 2023 by the Defense Industry Agency, exported $1.8 billion worth of products last year. Having generated more than 90% of its revenue in recent years, the company single-handedly accounted for one third of the Turkish defense and aerospace industry’s exports in 2023. The world’s largest exporter of armed UAVs, 97.5% of Baykar’s current contracts stem from exports. Until now, the company has signed export deals with 33 countries for Bayraktar TB2s and nine countries for the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV.