Bayraktar TB3: Türkiye's locally-produced UAV poised for maiden flight

Türkiye's TB3 Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), equipped with a foldable wing structure, has successfully completed its first taxiing test. The Bayraktar TB3, developed by Baykar, is on the verge of making its maiden flight. The TB3, designed to be the first armed unmanned aerial vehicle capable of taking off and landing from short-runway ships like TCG Anadolu due to its foldable wing design, passed its initial wheel-cutting test. Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Baykar, announced TB3's status during an interview with the press at TEKNOFEST. Bayraktar said that the Bayraktar TB3 is currently in Çorlu and will have its first flight shortly after TEKNOFEST, making it the first to perform ship-based takeoffs and landings, thus challenging the United States and Israel in achieving this capability. The Bayraktar TB3 has been developed with a variety of features that set it apart from its predecessor, the Bayraktar TB2. It boasts foldable wings, SATCOM payload, a take-off weight of 1450 kilograms, a 24-hour flight time, six weapon stations, and the capacity to operate at high altitudes. Its beyond-line-of-sight communication capability enables remote control from long distances, offering a significant boost to Türkiye's deterrent capabilities. It can undertake reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence, and attack missions against distant targets with the use of its smart munitions, contributing to Türkiye's defense prowess.