Bayraktar TB3 drone achieves major development milestone with munitions integration tests

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Bayraktar TB3 drone achieves major development milestone with munitions integration tests

The Bayraktar TB3 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) has taken a significant step forward in its development with the commencement of munitions integration tests. This follows its historic achievement of taking off and landing on a short-runway vessel, solidifying its reputation as a groundbreaking innovation in the field of aviation technology.

 

n 20 January 2025, the Bayraktar TB3 successfully completed its first munitions test flight from the Baykar Flight Training and Test Center in Keşan, Edirne. Armed with two Roketsan MAM-T munitions and equipped with Aselsan’s advanced ASELFLIR-500 system, the aircraft hit its designated target with remarkable precision, marking a pivotal moment in its transformation into a fully armed UCAV.

 

 

The Bayraktar TB3 had already made history on 19 November 2024 by successfully taking off from the TCG Anadolu, a vessel equipped with a 12-degree ramp. After completing a 46-minute flight over the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, it returned to the short runway without requiring landing support equipment, setting a global precedent. Subsequent sea trials further validated its capability, with another successful takeoff and landing sequence near Çanakkale.

During these tests, the Bayraktar TB3 demonstrated outstanding performance, cruising at an average altitude of 20,000 feet. This achievement underscores Baykar Technologies’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of aviation with indigenous and innovative designs.

 

Powered by the TEI PD-170 engine, the Bayraktar TB3 passed its High-Altitude System Performance Test on 25 June 2024, achieving a flight altitude of 36,310 feet. This test followed the record-breaking achievement of Baykar’s Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV, which reached an altitude of 45,118 feet, underscoring Türkiye’s growing expertise in advanced aerospace engineering.

The Bayraktar TB3 has accumulated over 887 flight hours, including a long-range test flight on 20 December 2023, during which it flew continuously for 32 hours and covered 5,700 kilometres. Its performance continues to meet and exceed the rigorous standards set for its development timeline.

 

 

One of the TB3’s notable milestones was achieved on 26 March 2024, when it conducted its first flight with Aselsan’s ASELFLIR-500 system. This indigenous Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System outperforms its international competitors, enhancing the UCAV’s capabilities for precision targeting and intelligence gathering.

Designed with foldable wings and equipped with beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communication, the Bayraktar TB3 is a versatile platform capable of operating from distant locations. This enables it to perform reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike missions effectively, making it a critical asset in Türkiye’s defence strategy and a force multiplier for overseas operations.

 

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