Maldives prioritizes aerial power with Bayraktar TB2 drone acquisition

The Maldives have joined the group of owners of Turkish drones Bayraktar TB2. The Defence Express service highlights that the acquisition of these UAVs might have consumed the entire annual defence budget of the country and notes that it now possesses more drones than armoured vehicles. Let's delve into what Bayraktar TB2 drones are and their capabilities.

The Maldives decided to purchase Bayraktar TB2 drones amid rising tensions with India, according to the Turkish service Daily Sabah. The deal includes the delivery of command posts and six unmanned combat aerial vehicles. The first UAVs have already arrived in the Maldives, thereby enhancing the capabilities of the Maldivian armed forces.

The small nation in the Indian Ocean indeed has limited military equipment resources. Defence Express reminds that in terms of aviation, one might mention Dornier Do 228 aircraft and two Indian helicopters HAL Dhruv, which have been assigned to the coast guard. The first of these machines, namely the German twin-engine turboprop Dorniers, are essentially passenger and transport aircraft. However, they take on patrol duties.

Interestingly, after the delivery of the Turkish drones Bayraktar TB2, the Maldives will boast more UAVs than armoured vehicles. Currently, the country owns two BMP-2 and two Turkish armoured vehicles Cobra, Defence Express recalls. The drones will also surpass the number of aircraft in the Maldivian armed forces.

The devices will facilitate the execution of patrol and observation missions, and if necessary, precision strikes. As Defence Express indicates, their purchase could have consumed "not only a significant portion, but almost the entire annual defence budget of the country". The country allocates about 100-110 million dollars (£80-88 million) annually for its 4,000-strong armed forces, and the cost of a single set is about 67 million dollars (£53.6 million).

Bayraktar TB2 is a flagship product of the Turkish company Baykar Makina. The war in Ukraine brought this drone into the spotlight, largely due to its capabilities. It belongs to the MALE (Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance) class. It has a takeoff weight of approximately 650 kg, a length of about 6.4 meters, and a wingspan of about 12 meters.

The manufacturer specifies that the machine can move at a maximum speed of about 219 km/h, with a cruising speed of around 130 km/h. Bayraktar TB2 can fly continuously for nearly 27 hours. Its range is estimated at about 150 km. The operational ceiling for this drone is about 5,486 meters, with a maximum of even 8,230 meters. These features make it an excellent tool for attacking enemy positions. Moreover, the device can carry weapons weighing up to about 75 kg on four underwing hardpoints.

Bayraktar TB2 has been adapted for the use of, among others, precision-guided MAM-L and MAM-C gliding bombs, anti-tank guided missiles, and laser-guided missiles. The service Daily Sabah highlights that around 33 countries have already purchased the drones, including Poland. It's noteworthy that in May 2021, Poland signed an agreement for the supply of four sets of MALE-class unmanned aerial systems Bayraktar TB2 for the Polish Armed Forces.