Baykar Bayraktar TB2
The Bayraktar TB2 is the Turkish combat drone that became famous in the Ukraine war. Medium-altitude UCAV with 27-hour endurance and laser-guided MAM-L missiles. Specs and historical context.
Full Specifications
| Weight | 650 kg (MTOW) |
| Flight Time | 27 h |
| Max Speed | 222 km/h |
| Camera | EO/IR system: optical + thermal + FLIR + laser designator |
| Payload | 55 kg (external) |
| Wingspan | 12 m |
| Wind Resistance | Operations up to 74 km/h winds |
| GPS | GPS + inertial navigation system |
| Dimensions | Length: 6.5 m |
When the war in Ukraine began in February 2022, a Turkish-made drone became a symbol of resistance: the Bayraktar TB2. Videos of successful strikes against armored vehicles, air defense systems, and Russian vessels circulated on social media alongside a popular Ukrainian song dedicated to the drone. Within weeks, the TB2 had moved from a niche subject for defense specialists to broadly known.
The phenomenon reflects a real shift in modern warfare: medium-cost drones gained the ability to destroy equipment costing tens or hundreds of times more than themselves.
What Is the Bayraktar TB2
The Bayraktar TB2 is a tactical unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by Baykar Defense, a Turkish private aerospace company. It is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone powered by a 100 hp Rotax 912iS engine, with a 12-meter wingspan and a maximum takeoff weight of 650 kg.
It is not autonomous: the TB2 is remotely piloted from a ground control station, with two operators — one for flight and one for the sensor/weapons system. Satellite communication provides control beyond line-of-sight range.
Armament and Precision Munitions
The TB2's combat capability comes from the MAM (Micro Munition) family of laser-guided missiles developed by Roketsan:
- MAM-L: 22 kg warhead with thermobaric, high-explosive, or anti-armor options; 8 km range
- MAM-C: lighter (6.5 kg total), for precision strikes against light vehicles and personnel
- MAM-T: extended range (15+ km) version in development
The drone carries four pylons supporting up to four munitions. Laser designation occurs from the onboard EO/IR system, enabling self-designation without a separate ground-based laser — a significant operational advantage.
EO/IR Surveillance System
The nose-mounted WESCAM MX-15D sensor suite provides: stabilized color optical camera, thermal imager, laser rangefinder, and laser designator. This system operates at altitudes that make the drone difficult to see or hear from the ground, enabling persistent surveillance of a target before engagement.
Why Ukraine Changed Everything
Before Ukraine, the TB2 was best known from conflicts in Libya, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Syria — theaters with limited or degraded air defenses. Ukraine was the first large-scale test against a near-peer military with modern air defense systems.
The TB2 proved effective in the early phases, destroying significant quantities of Russian equipment before Russia adapted its air defense posture. The lesson observers took from Ukraine was nuanced: the TB2 is highly effective against armies with poor air defense coordination, but faces increasing attrition against well-organized modern systems. As of 2024, the TB2's role in Ukraine had shifted from offensive strikes toward maritime surveillance and coordination.
Export Success
The TB2 has been exported to more than 30 countries, including Poland, Morocco, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, and numerous others. Its price — approximately $5–15 million per aircraft, a fraction of comparable Western systems — makes it accessible to militaries that cannot afford Predator or Reaper-class UCAVs.
Sources: Baykar Defense — TB2 Technical Specifications | IISS Military Balance 2023