Colombia is planning to replace its Israeli Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 UAVs with Baykar’s Bayraktar TB2 armed UAVs and Bayraktar TB3 UCAVs, respectively.
Ecuador-based El Universo reported that Colombia is considering the acquisition of Baykar’s UAVs to replace its Israeli Hermes line of UAVs. Colombia is an operator of both the Hermes 450 tactical UAV and Hermes 900 MALE UAV. The UAVs were sold to Colombia as a package within the scope of a deal signed in 2012.
One of the key reasons for the retirement of Hermes’ line of UAVs is likely to be their unarmed status in Colombian service, only serving as ISR platforms.
When it comes to Bayraktar TB2 and Bayraktar TB3 being considered as the replacements, both UAVs offer a wide range of weaponry options. In Bayraktar TB2’s case, the options include glide munitions (MAM-L, BOZOK, KAYI), and recently KEMANKEŞ 1 turbojet-powered loitering munition. The larger Bayraktar TB3 can carry heavier munitions in addition to TB2’s portfolio, such as UAV-122 aeroballistic missile with seeker options (Tested at 50+ km range) and MAM-T glide munition that can reach longer and hit harder than MAM-L.
Bayraktar TB2, likely being considered as the Hermes 450 replacement due to its closer characteristics, can also provide improvements in ISR missions thanks to the recent integrations of ASELFLIR 500 EO/IR system and Leonardo’s Osprey 30 AESA radar.
On the other hand, Bayraktar TB3, capable of using similar sensors (ASELFLIR 500 included), has the extra advantage of STOL capabilities demonstrated on TCG Anadolu (L400) LHD of the Turkish Navy.
