Turkish Military Receives 8 Locally-made Attack, Reconnaissance Drones

The Turkish military took delivery of eight Bayraktar armed and reconnaissance drones four of which are capable of carrying ‘smart ammunition.’

The number of Turkey-made Bayraktar armed and reconnaissance drones in the Turkish security forces has increased to 38 after eight new deliveries. The timing of the delivery was not known.

Four of the drones can carry the “Smart Micro Munition,” developed by domestic company, Roketsan. The Istanbul-based Baykar has delivered the “TB2” model Bayraktar armed drones to the military, state-run Anadolu Agency reported Friday.

Some 26 of the Bayraktar TB2s are used by the Turkish Armed Forces, while the police and gendarmerie forces have six drones each. The number of Bayraktar TB2s in the inventory in armed configuration is 15.

The operational flight duration of the drones reach 30,000 hours and can carry loads up to 100 kilograms.

The Bayraktar drones are widely used in the Turkish army’s counter-terrorism operations.

Some 986 militants inside the country and 867 abroad were “neutralized” in 562 operations backed by drones and manned reconnaissance aircraft in the first nine months of the year.