Bayraktar TB-3, the World’s First Armed UAV Capable of Taking Off and Landing on Short-Runway Ships, Continues to Attract International Interest
A high-ranking delegation from the Colombian Air Force will visit Türkiye to examine the operational capabilities of the Bayraktar TB-3 on-site.
According to reports in the Colombian media, the country is interested in high-altitude and advanced autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles. Within this scope, the Colombian Air Force is preparing to closely examine the Bayraktar TB-3 to strengthen its inventory.
Senior Colombian military officials will hold discussions in Türkiye to obtain detailed information on the technical features and operational capabilities of the Bayraktar TB-3.
A World First with Bayraktar TB-3
Developed indigenously by Baykar, the Bayraktar TB-3 made history as the first armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the world capable of taking off and landing on a short-runway ship.
- On November 19, 2024, the Bayraktar TB-3 successfully took off from the 12-degree inclined ramp of TCG Anadolu, marking a new chapter in aviation history.
- In January, during the first firing test conducted with ROKETSAN’s MAM-T munition, it hit its target with pinpoint accuracy.
- During a 46-minute flight test conducted at the intersection of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, it successfully landed without using landing support equipment, surpassing a significant milestone.
- In additional tests conducted off the coast of Çanakkale with the TCG Anadolu ship, it successfully completed two more takeoffs and landings, proving its capabilities.
Bayraktar TB-3’s Strategic Power Catches Colombia’s Attention
Thanks to its beyond-line-of-sight communication capability, the Bayraktar TB-3 can be controlled from long distances. This feature enables it to perform intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike missions effectively against overseas targets.
Colombia aims to leverage these strategic advantages to enhance its deterrence power.
First Export of Bayraktar TB-3 to Indonesia
Meanwhile, another significant step has been taken in Türkiye’s defense industry exports. During President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent visit to Indonesia, Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar and Republikorp Founder Norman Joesoef signed a “Joint Production Agreement for the Export of Bayraktar TB-3 and Bayraktar AKINCI.”
With this agreement, the first export of the Bayraktar TB-3 will be made to Indonesia.
© AeroHaber.com / Mevlüt Zor
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