Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones repurposed in Ukraine conflict
Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones, at the start of the war in Ukraine, were decimating Russian troops. Currently, information about these machines seldom appears in reports from the front, but that doesn’t mean the Ukrainians have stopped using them. They now serve different purposes than before.
Bayraktar TB2 is a MALE (Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance) unmanned aerial vehicle. It can carry up to 150 kg of payload. Significantly, it has been adapted to carry weapons and an observation module with a thermal imaging camera or AESA radar. Thanks to this, it features extensive functionality and, depending on the payload can perform attack or reconnaissance missions.
Bayraktar TB2 drones are still serving in Ukraine
In the early phase of the war, Ukrainians used Bayraktar TB2 drones mainly to attack Russian transports and military equipment, resulting in significant losses for the invaders. Over time, the Russians significantly improved their air defence systems, making it impossible for Ukrainians to perform attacks using these Turkish drones.
An article published on the Turkish portal SavunmaSanayiST emphasised that the abandonment of attack missions has not rendered the Bayraktar TB2 drones useless in Ukraine. They currently serve the defending army for different purposes. They help detect Russian ships and ground targets, mainly in the Black Sea region. Information received from the drones is later passed on to units using rocket artillery, such as HIMARS systems.
"Currently, Bayraktar TB2s play the role of mission coordinators, especially in the Black Sea region," it was written on the Turkish portal, citing information, among others, from GUR (Ukrainian Defence Intelligence).
The capabilities of Bayraktar TB2 drones
In a similar tone, Ukrainian military officials spoke in a recent interview about using Bayraktar TB2 drones. The Turkish portal also recalled that Ukrainian Bayraktar TB2 drone operators praise these unmanned aerial vehicles for their versatility and reliability.
Bayraktar TB2 measures about 6.5 m in length and has a wingspan of 12 m. It is a drone that can ascend to an altitude of 8,000 m. The maximum speed it can reach is about 200 km/h. During strike missions, Turkish drones can use laser-guided bombs MAM-L and MAM-C, which weigh approximately 22 kg and 7 kg, respectively.
