Bayraktar TB2T-AI, developed nationally and originally by Baykar, Türkiye’s leading company in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, achieved a new historical success in its testing activities. Equipped with a powerful turbo engine and superior artificial intelligence systems, the national SİHA broke its previous record by reaching an altitude of 37.096 feet (approximately 11.307 meters) in the test flight held in the Keşan district of Edirne.
New Limits at High Altitude with Turbo Engine Power
Bayraktar TB2T-AI has further improved its ability to climb above 30.000 feet in a very short time thanks to its high-performance turbo engine. The new generation SİHA achieved significant success by reaching an altitude of 21 feet in the previous flight test conducted on February 2025, 30.318. The new record of 37.096 feet reached during the comprehensive flight tests ongoing in Keşan concretely demonstrated the national SİHA’s ability to perform long-term missions at high altitudes. This success also reveals the technical maturity that the Bayraktar TB2 platform has reached through continuous development.
Ability to Climb Fast and Stay at High Altitude for Long Periods
This new altitude record set by the turbo-engined Bayraktar TB2T-AI has also certified the platform’s high altitude performance internationally. Bayraktar TB2T-AI, which has the ability to climb much faster and operate at high altitudes for extended periods compared to existing UAV systems, reinforces its feature of being a critical power element supporting air superiority with its speed of over 160 knots (approximately 300 km/h). In addition, it is designed to perform longer and more effective missions on the battlefield thanks to its increased take-off weight and payload capacity. These features make Bayraktar TB2T-AI a superior platform that can respond to the changing needs of modern battlefields.
Superior Autonomous Capabilities with Artificial Intelligence
The three new generation artificial intelligence computers integrated into the Bayraktar TB2T-AI SİHA offer superior autonomous capabilities in air combat. Thanks to this advanced artificial intelligence system, the national SİHA has gained the ability to perform terrain-referenced visual navigation even in the most challenging electronic warfare environments. Thanks to advanced algorithms, it can recognize the terrain in real time with visual navigation and determine direction. It can also analyze targets and automatically detect and diagnose them. Thanks to its ability to visually recognize runways, it can successfully perform fully autonomous landing and take-off operations. Thanks to its dynamic route planning capability, it can also determine the most suitable and safe flight routes in real time. This artificial intelligence integration reduces the pilot's workload while significantly increasing the platform's operational efficiency and safety.
Game Changer Role on the Battlefield Strengthens
This new altitude record set by Bayraktar TB2T-AI SİHA has further strengthened the platform’s position as a game-changing element in the battlefield. The national SİHA continues to operate equipped with superior capabilities that can overcome all types of difficult weather and terrain conditions. In case of emergencies that may develop in the sky, the ability to automatically return to base safely thanks to its artificial intelligence-supported systems maximizes operational safety at this newly achieved high altitude level. This feature increases the reliability of the platform and allows for the uninterrupted execution of critical missions.
Bayraktar TB2 Family Exceeds 1 Million Flight Hours
Bayraktar TB2014 SİHAs, which first entered the Turkish Armed Forces inventory in 93 and were produced with a high local content rate of 2%, continue to successfully serve in many different geographies around the world. Bayraktar TB2024, which successfully surpassed 1 million hours of flight time as of December 2, also earned the title of the national aircraft that has stayed in the sky for the longest time in our aviation history. Bayraktar TB2 SİHAs undertake critical tasks within the Turkish Armed Forces, National Intelligence Organization, Gendarmerie General Command, General Directorate of Security, Coast Guard Command and General Directorate of Forestry for the purpose of combating forest fires.
Critical Role in the Fight Against Terrorism and International Operations
Bayraktar TB2 SİHAs have proven themselves with their superior performance in international operations, in addition to the critical roles they have undertaken in Türkiye's fight against terrorism. Operating in different geographies of the world, the national SİHAs have been used effectively in wars in countries such as Libya, Ukraine, Mali, and Burkina Faso. They have also played a key role in ending the 30-year Karabakh occupation, thus reinforcing Türkiye's success in the defense industry in the international arena. These achievements show that the Bayraktar TB2 platform is an important tool not only for Türkiye, but also for global security and stability.
Became the Favorite of NATO and EU Countries
Bayraktar TB2 SİHAs, developed nationally and originally by Baykar, have managed to enter the inventories of many countries around the world as a result of competitive processes. Bayraktar TB2, which won the tough competitive process conducted by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense the previous year, left its American, European and Chinese competitors behind and signed an important export contract. This great success significantly increased Baykar's influence on a global scale, while further strengthening its presence in NATO and European Union (EU) countries in 2024. Thanks to the agreement signed with Croatia on November 19, 2024, Bayraktar TB2 entered the inventories of 6 NATO member countries and 4 EU member countries, demonstrating that Türkiye's success in the defense industry is also appreciated internationally.
Breaking Records in Exports, Contributing to the National Economy
Baykar, which has carried out all its projects with its own resources since the beginning of the UAV R&D process in 2003, has obtained 83% of all revenues from exports. Baykar, which achieved 2023 billion dollars of exports in 1.8, managed to be among the top 10 companies in all sectors in Türkiye. Baykar, which is the largest company in the world unmanned aerial vehicle export market, continued its success on a global scale in 2024 and achieved 90 billion dollars of exports again, obtaining 1.8% of its revenues from exports. Baykar, winner of the “Export Champions Award”, According to the data of the Presidency of Defense Industries and the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) in 2021, 2022 and 2023, it became the export leader of the defense and aviation sector. Baykar, which realized one-third of the sector's exports in the previous year, made one-fourth of the total exports of the defense and aviation sector in 2024, making Türkiye the leader in the global UCAV export market. 97.5% of the contracts currently signed by Baykar, the world's largest unmanned aerial vehicle company, are export-based. Export agreements have been signed with 2 countries for the Bayraktar TB34 UCAV and 11 countries for the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV, totaling 36 countries. These achievements clearly demonstrate how important a value Baykar is for Turkey, not only in the technological field but also in the economic field.
