Baykar’s Advanced TB2T-AI Drone Takes Flight
Turkish defense company Baykar is pushing boundaries with its AI-equipped Bayraktar TB2T-AI drone.
This revamped version of the widely-used TB2 boasts a powerful turbo engine and intelligent artificial intelligence systems.
The new turbo engine significantly boosts performance.
It enables the drone to ascend above 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) in just half an hour, outpacing the original’s 22,000-foot (6,096 meters) limit.
Top speed is also increased to a brisk 160 knots (186 miles/300 kilometers per hour), a step up from 120 knots (137 miles/222 kilometers per hour).
Its design improvements mean the drone can undertake longer and more efficient missions, thanks to an increased maximum takeoff weight and payload capacity.
The TB2T-AI integrates three sophisticated AI computers, enhancing its autonomy.
The AI gives the drone the ability to pinpoint and follow targets.
It can also recognize diverse terrains, plan flight paths, and handle takeoffs and landings without human intervention.
These AI systems mean the drone can autonomously return to base.
Global Presence of the Bayraktar TB2
The original Bayraktar TB2 has not only been used for operations within Turkey, but has been adopted by several countries across the globe.
In November 2024, Croatia agreed to a $95-million contract. to purchase six of these drones.
In Poland, the final shipment of TB2 drones was delivered in May 2024, a result of a $270-million agreement made in 2021.
In 2022, Lithuania ran a public fundraising campaign, collecting 5 million euros ($5.2 million) to purchase a Bayraktar TB2 for Ukrainian forces.
Outside of Turkey, the drone has been involved in the conflicts in Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nagorno-Karabakh.
