The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, which recently took off and landed on a short-runway vessel, TCG Anadolu L400, has begun munitions integration tests with MAM-T.
Yesterday, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV departed from the Baykar Flight Training and Test Center in Keşan, Edirne, with two Roketsan MAM-T munitions onboard. The aircraft successfully launched its first strike using Aselsan’s ASELFLIR-500 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System, hitting its designated target with pinpoint accuracy. Now an armed unmanned aerial vehicle, the Bayraktar TB3 will continue its payload and munitions integration tests as part of its ongoing development process, in line with the predetermined timeline.
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV successfully took off from the short runway of TCG Anadolu, equipped with a 12-degree ramp, on November 19, 2024. After completing a 46-minute test flight at the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean intersection, the unmanned aerial system landed on the same short runway without any landing support equipment. Shortly after, the Bayraktar TB3 continued its sea trials, completing a second takeoff and landing sequence aboard TCG Anadolu off the coast of Çanakkale, again without landing support equipment. Baykar’s indigenous UCAV, having passed all test parameters, successfully completed the test after cruising at an average altitude of 20,000 feet.
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV has accumulated 887 hours and 23 minutes of flight time during its test flights. In a long-range flight test on December 20, 2023, the Indigenous aircraft remained airborne for 32 consecutive hours, covering a total distance of 5,700 kilometres.
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV completed its first flight with Aselsan’s indigenous ASELFLIR-500 on March 26, 2024. The ASELFLIR-500 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System was integrated into the aircraft during the test.
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV will lead its class with its foldable wings and advanced capabilities. Equipped with beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communication, this indigenous aircraft can be controlled from distant locations. With this capability, the Bayraktar TB3 will serve as a force multiplier for Türkiye’s deterrence, enabling it to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence, and strike missions against overseas targets using its smart munitions.
