Bayraktar TB2 armed UAV has demonstrated self-protection for unmanned aircraft through TÜBİTAK BİLGEM's SPPOD-L with missile warning sensors and flares.
According to TÜBİTAK's 2025 activity report, Bayraktar TB2 fitted with TÜBİTAK BİLGEM's SPPOD-L self-protection pod has achieved an important milestone.
SPPOD-L, developed for self-defence against IR-guided missiles through LWIR missile warning sensors and flare dispensers, has been integrated on Bayraktar TB2 and completed its flare launch test. This marks the first time in Turkiye that an armed UAV/UCAV is being fitted with self-protection against IR-guided missiles.
The US is the only other country to have tested a pod of this type. An MQ-9 Reaper UCAV was tested with GA-ASI's Self-Protection Pod in 2021.
TÜBİTAK BİLGEM is also developing a MWIR variant of the SPPOD, SPPOD-M, as well as three electronic warfare pods: EHPOD-S (DRFM Jammer), EDPOD-K (ESM), and ETPOD (Countering radars with fake target tactics).
With the addition of SPPOD-L, self-protection options for Turkish UCAVs now cover both RF-based and IR-based threats, alongside the ANTIDOT family of electronic warfare pods from ASELSAN.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
