Baykar Bayraktar TB2 UAV

Overview:

An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle developed by Turkish company Baykar, the Bayraktar TB2 has been in development since 2007 and took its first flight in 2009.^[1]Military Today, Bayraktar TB2, https://www.militarytoday.com/aircraft/bayraktar_tb2.htm This system has reportedly been widely used in conflict (including the Armenia/ Azerbaijan conflict; Syria; Libya; Nagorno; Karabakh and Ukraine). It can carry guided munitions, including the MAM-L (Mini Akıllı Mühimmat-Lazer) and the MAM-C (MAM-Cirit).^[2]Armed Forces, ‘Bayraktar TB2’, https://armedforces.eu/air_forces/drone/Bayraktar_TB2; Baykar, ‘Bayraktar TB2’, https://baykartech.com/en/uav/bayraktar-tb2/#

Autonomy:

The Bayraktar TB2 has basic and advanced autonomous features. It features fully automatic flight control, and the system is also capable of fully automatic navigation and route tracking without reliance on GPS. It can perform ‘target acquisition using the onboard laser designator’, but does not have autonomous targeting capabilities. 

Other:

In May 2023, it was reported that the majority of Bayraktar TB2 UAVs used in Ukraine had ‘almost entirely been shot down, and those that remain reduced to reconnaissance duties'^[3]Business Insider, ‘Bayraktar TB2 drones were hailed as Ukraine’s savior and the future of warfare. A year later, they’ve practically … Continue reading

Instances of use:

Armenia/Azerbaijan conflict; Syria; Libya; Nagorno Karabakh; Ukraine