Delivery of Bayraktar TB2 UAVs to Poland Completed
The final system of the Bayraktar TB2, developed by Baykar, has been delivered to Poland. This marks the first time in Turkish history that high-tech UAVs have been successfully exported to a NATO and European Union (EU) member country. Experts indicate that this historic agreement strengthens the strategic cooperation and technological partnership between the two nations.
Delivery Timeline
- First Set: Delivered on October 28, 2022, to the Polish Armed Forces.
- Second Set: Delivered on April 14, 2023.
- Final System: Delivered on May 16, 2024.
The contract for the purchase of four sets of Bayraktar TB2 UAVs by the Polish Army was signed in May 2021. This contract includes delivery from 2022 to 2024 of four Bayraktar TB2 sets, ground control stations, SAR radars (AESA active electronically scanned array Leonardo Osprey 30), simulators, training and logistics packages, and spare parts.
Statements from Baykar’s General Manager
Haluk Bayraktar, General Manager of Baykar, shared on the social media platform X: “Today, we completed the delivery of the final system of our Bayraktar TB2 UAVs to Poland. With this, we have successfully completed the first high-tech UAV export to a NATO and EU member country in Turkey’s history. We are proud to showcase Turkey’s capabilities in the defense industry on the world stage.”
Deployment in Poland
The delivered Bayraktar TB2s are stationed at Poland’s 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Base in Mirosławiec. To date, 18 TB2 UAVs have been deployed at this base.
Usage and Customization
Responding to questions about whether the configuration of the Bayraktar TB2 UAVs would differ from standard UAVs and how the supplied SAR sensors would be used, former Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak stated: “Our operators will receive sets configured according to Poland’s specific requirements. We are not procuring a product directly from the production line. The TB2 system we will use will differ from that of other countries. The agreement includes EO sensors for reconnaissance, laser rangefinders, SAR, and laser-guided MAM-C and MAM-L weapons.”
Integration and Strategic Deployment
Minister Błaszczak also noted that the TB2 UAVs would be integrated with Poland’s main defense and weapon systems: “The system, as a whole, will serve a specific operational purpose within our conflict potential. The UAVs will not be used autonomously but as part of a larger system. They must complement the main defense and weapon systems used by our military. Here, I refer to the soon-to-be-added F-35 fighter jets and Patriot and HIMARS systems. The key is to achieve effective harmonious results from all the above elements.”
The delivery of the Bayraktar TB2 UAVs to Poland is seen as a significant indicator of defense cooperation and technological integration between the two countries.
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