Albania Approves Bayraktar TB2 Drone Purchase

Albania’s parliament allocated an additional budget of more than €8 million for the procurement of Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey.

The nod for such a contract came after Albanian Interior Minister Bledar Çuçi and military officials paid a visit to Turkey, Turkey’s government-owned Anadolu Agency reported Thursday.

After visiting the Bayraktar production facility in Istanbul, Çuçi signaled that his country would likely purchase the drone. “We are evaluating the possibility of using Turkish UCAVs for civilian and military purposes in Albania,” he said.

Ukraine already has a number of these drones in its inventory. It wants to buy many more Bayraktar TB2s and even plans to establish a facility to manufacture them along with Turkey.

Other countries that have bought TBs are Qatar, Azerbaijan and Morocco.

Poland became the first NATO member state to commit to purchasing Bayraktar TB2s when it signed related agreement to buy 24 of them in May. Latvia could follow suit, with its Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks, hinting at a possible purchase. In reply to a Twitter follower who asked “When can we expect Bayraktar TB2 to say 'I am in Latvia' (Es esmu Latvija)?,” Minister Pabriks wrote: “I hope soon.”

The Bayraktar – with its electronic, software, aerodynamic, design and sub-main systems fully designed and developed nationally – stands out among the world's most advanced UAV systems in its class with its flight automation and performance.

It has a record altitude of 27,030 feet for over 24 hours in the air and can carry 150 kilograms (over 330 pounds) of payload. It can operate day and night.