Turkey's Bayraktar TB3 Completes its First Flight with Retracted Landing Gear

Turkey's Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) has completed its first flight with retracted landing gear.

During its fifth performance test, the UCAV flew at medium altitude, covering a successful six-hour flight in the northwestern province of Tekirdağ, as reported by local media. Selçuk Bayraktar, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Baykar, announced the achievement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Bayraktar TB3 successfully completed its fifth flight test."

Equipped with the domestically developed PD-170 engine by TUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI), the drone showcased resilience during adverse weather conditions in the Marmara region, achieving a speed of 130 km/h (80.78 mph) in its third flight test on November 4, according to state-owned Anadolu Agency (AA).

Featuring reinforced landing gear, folding wings, and a more powerful engine, the TB3 UCAV is specifically designed for deployment on Türkiye's recently commissioned aircraft carrier, TCG Anadolu.

Baykar's CTO, Selçuk Bayraktar, announced plans to initiate tests for the Bayraktar TB3 to operate on the aircraft carrier starting next year. Weighing in at a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 1,450 kilograms (3,196.70 pounds) and boasting a payload capacity of 280 kilograms, the UCAV is nearly twice as heavy as its predecessor, the Bayraktar TB2. It is anticipated to achieve a range of 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 kilometers).