Turkey’s Bayraktar TB3 Combat Drone Climbs to 36,000ft

Baykar's Bayraktar TB3 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), equipped with an indigenous engine, has reached an altitude of 36,310 feet during a high-altitude system test at the Baykar Flight Training and Test Center in Keşan, Edirne.

The drone's engine, the TEI PD-170, powered the flight.

The Bayraktar TB3 made its maiden flight on October 27, 2023, and has since been undergoing system identification and performance tests at various altitudes. It has accumulated 445 hours and three minutes of flight time in a series of test flights. On December 20, 2023, the drone remained airborne for 32 consecutive hours, covering a distance of 5,700 km during an endurance test.

On June 1, 2024, the Bayraktar TB3 completed a ski-jump test at the Keşan facility, which features a 12-degree ramp identical to the TCG Anadolu’s main deck. This test is part of the preparations for the drone's operational deployment on the aircraft carrier. The Bayraktar TB3 has foldable wings, enabling it to take off and land on short-runway vessels like the TCG Anadolu.

On March 26, 2024, the drone was equipped with the ASELFLIR-500 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System, an indigenous product of Aselsan. The system was integrated into the aircraft during relevant tests.

The Bayraktar AKINCI, another aircraft developed by Baykar, holds Turkey’s altitude record at 45,118 feet.

The Bayraktar TB3 is scheduled for testing aboard the Turkish aircraft carrier within this year. The drone features Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communication capabilities, allowing for operations from vast distances.