KYIV, ($1=29.35 Ukrainian Hryvnia) — The Armed Forces of Ukraine are making full use of the Bayraktar TB2 attack drones acquired by Turkey for the first time in 2019, BulgarianMilitary.com has learned, citing information from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine released a video in which Ukrainian drones hit the Russian electronic warfare system [EW] and self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile systems 9K317 Buk-M2 TELAR. According to the Ukrainian military, the two systems were struck near Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
Ukrainian sources confirmed to BulgarianMilitary.com that in recent weeks Bayraktar TB2 drones have targeted and destroyed Russian command posts, armored combat vehicles, Russian infantry vehicles, and various mobile air defense systems.
According to unconfirmed information, since 2019, Ukraine has acquired about 50 strike drones from Bayraktar TB2. BulgariaMilitary.com announced last week that Ukraine and Turkey have agreed on a new supply of efficient drones.
The combat experience of Bayraktar TB2
The first registered flight of the Turkish attacking drone was in 2014. Since then, Bayraktar TB2 has gained great popularity around the world after taking an active part in countering Russian weapons systems in Libya, Syria, and the Nagorno-Karabakh war.
During the civil conflict in Libya in 2019-2020, Bayraktar TB2 took an active part in the fighting against the Libyan National Army [LNA] led by Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar. One of the most successful airstrikes on Turkish drones was the destruction of two LNA Ilyushin Il-76TD cargo planes on the ground at al-Jufra Airbase.
Following are reports from sources of the destruction of Russia’s Paintsir-S1 mobile air defense systems, both in Libya and in Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh. According to various reports, more than 73 Syrian military vehicles were destroyed in early 2020, and a total of 19 soldiers were killed by Turkish drones.
During the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Turkish drones destroyed dozens of Armenian infantry positions and military vehicles, including BM-30 Smerch MLRS, T-72s tanks, BMP-1, and BMP-2 IFVs. Bayraktar TB2 has reportedly successfully destroyed nine Osa and Strela-10 air defense systems in the same conflict.
However, Bayraktar TB2 also suffered defeats. During the Libyan civil war alone, various reports indicate that 47 Bayraktar TB2 drones were shot down by LNA forces. The same statement was made by the American correspondent Jeff Jaworski. There are reports of at least two Turkish Bayrakt TB2 drones shot down by Armenian troops in the Nagorno-Karabakh war, and about a dozen Syrian army drones shot down in the skies over Syria.
Bayraktar TB2
Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude long-endurance [MALE] unmanned combat aerial vehicle [UCAV] manufactured by the Turkish Company Baykar. The drone has an autonomous mode of operation and is controlled by operators remotely.
More than 300 Bayraktar TB2 units are currently operating worldwide. The operators of these attacking drones are Turkey, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine. Reports indicate that Bulgaria, Albania, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Oman, Rwanda, Somalia, and Serbia are interested in Turkish drones. According to the latest information, Iraq and Niger have placed an order for the purchase of a total of 14 Bayraktar TB2 drones [Iraq-8, Niger-6].
The operating range of Bayraktar TB2 is 150 km, which is achieved with a cruise speed of 130 km / h. The maximum speed at which the Turkish drone can fly is 220 km / h. The maximum altitude at which it can fly is 8.2 km, and the recommended working altitude is 5.5 km.
Bayraktar TB2 is powered by a 100 hp [75 kW] internal combustion engine with injection, which burns a maximum of 300 liters [79 US gal] of gasoline. It is 6.5 meters long and 12 meters wide with a full wingspan. It can carry a payload of 150 kg over its own weight.
Bayraktar TB2 has interchangeable EO / IR / LD imaging and targeting sensor systems or Multi-Mode AESA Radar, as Aselsan CATS EO / IR / LD imaging and targeting sensor [current production] and WESCAM MX-15D EO / IR / LD imaging and targeting sensor.
The armament of Bayraktar TB2 consists of four laser-guided smart ammunition. They may be different, but according to official information, the quake drone has a choice of what ammunition to use among L-UMTAS [Long Range Anti-tank Missile System], MAM-C and MAM-L precision-guided ammunition, Roketsan Cirit [70 mm Missile System], TUBITAK-SAGE BOZOK Laser-Guided Rockets, TUBITAK-SAGE TOGAN air-to-surface launched 81 mm mortar ammunition, TUBITAK-SAGE KUZGUN Modular joint ammunition.
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