Bayraktar TB3: Turkey’s Bayraktar TB3 continues to push the limits of aviation with groundbreaking achievements. This unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), which recently made history by taking off and landing on a short-runway ship, has now successfully completed a major missile test. Engineers are moving forward with more advanced weapon integration to strengthen its capabilities.
On March 25, the Bayraktar TB3 took off from Dalaman, Muğla, carrying the IHA-122 Supersonic Missile, developed by Roketsan. It climbed to the test altitude and launched the missile, striking a floating 6-by-6-meter target at sea from over 50 kilometers away on the first try. During the test, a Bayraktar TB2 provided laser guidance from the air.
The TB2 locked onto the target, and the TB3 fired, destroying it with pinpoint accuracy. This test proved that both drones can work together to mark and hit targets efficiently. Baykar engineers will continue testing new weapons and equipment as planned.
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Bayraktar TB3’s Shipboard Performance
The Bayraktar TB3 has also made history with its shipboard performance. According to Naval News, on November 19, 2024, it successfully took off from the TCG Anadolu using a 12-degree ski-jump ramp. It flew for 46 minutes over the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas before returning to land safely on the ship’s short deck, without any extra landing equipment. This marked a world-first for a UCAV.
Following this achievement, the TB3 performed two more take-offs and landings under similar conditions while the TCG Anadolu was sailing near Çanakkale. It handled all tasks without difficulty, maintaining an average altitude of 20,000 feet. Engineers confirmed that all test objectives were met.
Baykar also tested the TB3’s performance at high altitudes. On June 25, 2024, it flew up to 36,310 feet at the Baykar Flight Training and Test Center in Keşan, Edirne. This flight demonstrated the strength of its TEI-made PD-170 engine, which was developed entirely in Türkiye. However, the highest altitude reached by a Turkish UCAV remains 45,118 feet, a record held by the Bayraktar AKINCI, another drone built by Baykar.
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Since its first flight, the TB3 has spent a total of 967 hours and 55 minutes in the air. One of its longest missions took place on December 20, 2023, when it remained airborne for 32 hours, covering a distance of 5,700 kilometers.
On March 26, 2024, another important step in the TB3’s development took place. For the first time, it flew with the ASELFLIR-500 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System, developed by Aselsan. The integration of this high-tech camera, which offers better performance than many global competitors, was successfully completed.
The Bayraktar TB3 is designed with foldable wings and advanced technology, making it one of the most capable drones in its class. It is equipped with Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communication, allowing it to be controlled from far distances.
