Ukraine and Baykar team up for Bayraktar drone repair center amid escalating drone warfare.

According to an article published by Al Arabiya on July 31, 2023, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense signed an agreement on the same day with Baykar Makina, a Turkish defense company, to establish a service center for the repair and maintenance of drones within Ukrainian territory.

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  A Bayraktar TB2 drone (Picture source: Baykar Technologies)

Kostiantyn Vashchenko, State Secretary of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, confirmed the agreement and stated that the center will be operational in the near future. The joint project is expected to enhance Ukraine's drone systems and bolster the country's defense capabilities in response to the ongoing Russian aggression.

The decision comes at a time when drone warfare has escalated between Moscow and Kyiv, with both sides using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to target critical infrastructure and strategic assets.

Notably, Baykar Makina had previously begun construction of a factory in Ukraine, aimed at manufacturing Bayraktar TB2 drones. This announcement was made by Oleksandr Kamyshin, the Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine, earlier in July 2023. The decision to build the manufacturing plant was part of a strategic agreement signed between Turkey and Ukraine just before the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.

The Bayraktar TB2 drone has gained recognition for its operational effectiveness in various military operations worldwide. Equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal sensors, and laser-guided munitions, the Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV that provides surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition support to ground forces.

The drone's capability to carry out precision strikes on enemy targets, including armored vehicles, fortifications, and personnel, has contributed to Turkey's aerial capabilities and operational effectiveness on the battlefield. Its deployment in different conflict zones highlights the growing significance of combat drones in modern military operations.

The establishment of the drone repair center in Ukraine is expected to strengthen the strategic partnership between Kyiv and Baykar, while also enhancing Ukraine's defense capabilities. The collaboration is set to facilitate the maintenance and repair of existing drone assets, as well as promote knowledge transfer and skill development for Ukrainian operators and maintenance personnel.

As experts closely monitor the implications of this strategic collaboration on regional security dynamics, the international community is interested in observing how this partnership will shape future defense strategies in an evolving geopolitical landscape.

The Bayraktar TB2 is a well-known Turkish combat drone recognized for its operational effectiveness, which has been extensively deployed in various military operations worldwide. The drone has been utilized in various regions, including Ukraine, Syria, and Libya. Furthermore, Baykar has already secured export agreements with 30 countries for the Bayraktar TB2, including Qatar and Azerbaijan, for their own military operations.

The TB2 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with advanced technologies such as high-resolution cameras, thermal sensors, and laser-guided munitions. Its extended flight endurance and real-time intelligence capabilities provide valuable support for surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition for ground forces. The utilization of combat drones like the Bayraktar TB2 underscores their significance in modern warfare.

The TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is operated remotely by a ground control station with a crew of three. It has a length of 6.5 meters (21 feet 4 inches), a wingspan of 12 meters (39 feet 4 inches), and a maximum take-off mass of 700 kg (1,540 lbs). With a payload capacity of 150 kg (331 lbs), this UAV is powered by a 100 hp (75kW) Rotax 912-iS internal combustion engine and uses a 2-bladed variable-pitch propeller. Its fuel capacity is 300 liters (79 US gallons), and it runs on gasoline. In terms of performance, the TB2 can reach a maximum speed of 120 knots (222 km/h) and cruise at 70 knots (130 km/h). It has an impressive range of up to 4,000 km (2,160 nautical miles) and a communication range of less than 300 km (186 miles) due to line-of-sight propagation. The UAV's service ceiling is 25,000 feet (7,620 meters), and it can operate at an altitude of 18,000 feet (5,486 meters) with an endurance of 27 hours.

The TB2 is equipped with various armaments, such as the Smart Micro Munition (MAM-L) and MAM-C high explosive variants. Its four hardpoints can carry combinations of MAM-C and MAM-L laser-guided smart bombs, L-UMTAS (Long Range Anti-tank Missile System), Roketsan Cirit (70mm Missile System), TUBITAK-SAGE BOZOK Laser Guided Rockets, TUBITAK-SAGE TOGAN quad rack of GPS/INS guided 81 mm mortars, and a proposed Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System – 70mm laser-guided rocket.

For avionics, the TB2 features interchangeable EO/IR/LD imaging and targeting sensor systems or Multi Mode AESA Radar, with options such as the Aselsan CATS EO/IR/LD imaging and targeting sensor, Hensoldt ARGOS-II HDT, and Wescam MX-15D EO/IR/LD imaging and targeting sensor. The UAV also includes a Garmin GNC 255A navigation/communication transceiver for added functionality.