Poland Deploys Bayraktar TB2 Drones to Turkey as Part of NATO Mission

Poland is deploying a military unit equipped with Bayraktar TB2 drones to Turkey as part of the NATO Tailored Assurance Measures for Turkey (TAMT).

This mission focuses on patrolling the eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea, providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support, and coordinating with NATO’s naval forces in the region.

The General Staff of the Polish Army announced the deployment through its official account on X. The unit assigned to this mission is from the 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Base in Mirosławiec, which has been operating Bayraktar TB2 drones since 2022.

Poland’s introduction of Bayraktar TB2 drones into its military inventory began with a $270 million agreement signed in May 2021 with Turkish defense manufacturer Baykar. The deal included four systems, each comprising six drones and three ground control stations. The first batch of drones was delivered in October 2022, while the final units arrived in May 2024, completing Poland’s acquisition of the systems.

NATO’s mission in Turkey, launched in 2020, addresses security concerns on the Syrian border. Under the TAMT framework, allies rotate military units to provide assistance, with Poland deploying 80 soldiers and an M28 Bryza aircraft in 2021 for six months. The Polish unit will monitor the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea while supporting NATO naval groups.

Since 2014, NATO has enhanced security in its eastern territories through airspace monitoring, ISR activities, and maritime patrols. For Turkey, measures include maritime operations, ISR missions, and intelligence sharing to address border threats.

Bayraktar TB2 UAV Completes Test with Bozok, Kayi-30 Munitions

The Bayraktar TB2 UAV has completed a firing test with BOZOK and KAYI-30 munitions. Selçuk Bayraktar, Baykar's Chairman, shared a video confirming accurate hits, stating, “BOZOK and KAYI-30 Ammunition Firing Test. Right on Target.” The KAYI Guided Miniature Munition Family, made entirely with domestic components, addresses various operational needs with anti-personnel, armor-piercing, and thermobaric warheads. The KAYI-30 weighs 30 kg, measures 100 cm, and has a range of 25 km with a CEP under 3 meters. The larger KAYI-50, at 50 kg and 130 cm, offers similar range and precision. TÜBİTAK SAGE's BOZOK laser-guided munition enhances UAV operations with its lightweight design and effective attack capability in asymmetric warfare scenarios.