Bayraktar TB3 UCAV Climbs to 33,000 ft. Highlighting High Altitude Reconnaissance Capability

Baykar’s Bayraktar TB3 UCAV equipped with an indigenous engine has touched an altitude of 33,000 feet during its High-Altitude System Performance Test.

This sets a new altitude record for an aircraft with its indigenous engine, the company announced in press release.

The UCAV completed its maiden flight on October 27, 2023. During a recent flight at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV successfully climbed to 33,000 feet, powered by the PD-170 indigenous engine developed by TUSAS Engine Industries Inc. (TEI).

To date, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV has logged 327 hours and 35 minutes of flight time during its testing phase. A long-duration flight test on December 20, 2023, saw the aircraft fly for 32 hours, covering a distance of 5,700 kilometers.

On March 26, 2024, Baykar integrated Aselsan’s indigenous ASELFLIR-500 camera pod into the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV for the first time. This integration included the ASELFLIR-500 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System, enhancing the UCAV's capabilities.

The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV is set to become the world's first armed drone capable of operating from short-runway vessels like TCG Anadolu, thanks to its foldable wings. Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman and CTO of Baykar, announced plans to begin testing the Bayraktar TB3 aboard TCG Anadolu in 2024.

The Bayraktar TB3's features, including Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communication capabilities, will enable it to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence, and offensive missions with smart munitions against distant targets.