President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made important statements regarding the Turkish unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), which changed the course of the war in both Karabakh and Ukraine. The Turkish UCAVs, which President Erdogan stated super powers are lining up to buy, saying, “Now everybody wants UAVs, UCAVs, the BAYRAKTAR TB2, the Akinci,” made world headlines again. A British newspaper sang praises to Bayraktar TB2, while German television claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to buy UCAVs from Türkiye. It was reminded that the TB2 is almost invisible to conventional aerial defense systems, and they can escape the S-300s developed by Russia. It was reported that the Turkish UAVs not only escaped S-300s in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war but also destroyed them. It was further claimed that as the Bayraktar TB2s first survey the land and determine targets before conducting sensitive attacks using laser-guided weapons, and are of vital importance in the war against Putin’s forces, “of course Putin will want to have the Bayraktar and that this is no surprise.”
Baykar General Manager Haluk Bayraktar, who rejected Russia’s request to buy UCAVs from Türkiye after the Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs caused great damage to the Russian military in the Ukraine war, said they will not sell UCAVs to Russia regardless of what they may offer. According to a report by Kerim Ulker from Dunya newspaper, the Kremlin-backed hacker group Killnet threatened via their Telegram channel Baykar – who produced the Bayraktar UCAVs, which caused loss to the Russian military in Ukraine attacks – and the company owner Bayraktar family. Previously, Sergei Tsekov, member of the Russian Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, stated upon news that Baykar Technology would be establishing a factory in Ukraine related to UCAV production, the said plant would be a legitimate target.
The Bayraktar TB2s purchased by more than 20 countries worldwide are soon going to become “invisible” to radars. It has been revealed that Baykar company is working on a new model identified as the “ghost UCAV.” The company that is preparing to produce in Ukraine, and in the stage of establishing a factory for this purpose, is going to produce the new model unmanned combat aerial vehicle called Bayraktar TB4. The Bayraktar TB2s purchased by more than 20 countries around the world will soon be “invisible” under the radar. The claim that the design for TB4 is ready came from Ukraine media. According to reports by Kyiv-based Defence Express, which is known for its defense news, Baykar company owned by Haluk and Selcuk Bayraktar brothers, developed a ghost version of the TB2, which is already very slightly visible to the radar. Defence Express further published an image for the UCAV referred to as “Bayraktar TB4.” The vehicle claimed to be the TB4 design seems to be a little lower and narrower than Bayraktar TB2. According to the Ukrainian media outlet, Baykar company will be producing the UCAV in question at the factory they are currently in the process of establishing in the country. Ukrainian companies' products will largely be included in production as well.
The image of Baykar’s new type UCAVwas projected on the plant to be established in Ukraine. It is believed that the TB4, which is lower from the top and bottom, and quite narrow, will leave less of a trace than the TB2 in the radar cross-section area, and this will place the new model UCAV in the “ghost” category. The TB2, which has been sold to more than 20 countries to date, with almost 350 produced, already has quite a small radar cross-section. In other words, it is already very difficult to detect it in radars. Hence, it is believed that TB4 will certainly make it more difficult for air defense systems to fulfill their duty.
The company is developing the TB3, the model before TB4, for the Naval Forces. The TB3, which comes after TB2 was designed by Baykar company to run on aircraft carriers. The folding winged Bayraktar TB3, which is planned to be launched next year, is expected to bring a breath of fresh air to naval warfare. The “ghost” TB4, which will follow TB3 will most likely be produced first in Ukraine.
While the news report included President Erdogan’s statement, “We exist with our UAVs, our UCAVs, our Akincis, and now with our Gokbeys. Us and all our weapons are the worst nightmare of our enemies around the world,” it also mentioned a secret project that Greece and Israel are implementing against UAVs. Greek Kathimerini newspaper stated that Türkiye’s UAVs pose a threat to their country, claiming, “Greece does not have sufficient electronic war equipment. This is concerning in the event of a likely Turkish-Greek conflict in the Aegean.”
Oh Greeks, cowards die many times before their death, be smart. Otherwise, this time you will be tossed into the sea from the islands you armed in violation of the Lausanne Paris agreement!
