The Turkish company Baykar Makina, which produces Bayraktar TB2 drones, handed over one unit destined for Ukraine to Lithuania, Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said on Facebook (notice that this social network and its parent company Meta are qualified as extremists in Russia, hence their activities are prohibited there). An unprecedented aspect of this donation is that Baykar Makina agreed to donate the $6m armed drone, which Lithuania was crowdfunding for, in support of Ukraine’s war against Russian invaders.
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After unprecedented crowdfunding by Lithuanian citizens, this Bayraktar TB2 with the Lithuanian flag on the tail will be given to Ukraine (Picture source: Russian Facebook VK)
Turkey (Turkiye) is impressed by the desire of the Lithuanian people to help Ukraine, so the manufacturer gives Lithuania a Bayraktar TB2 combat drone. “Our drone will be ready soon”, the minister said. The Turkish company promised to apply Ukrainian markings on the and give it a name, he said.
So far, the Ukrainian armed forces have made intensive and very successful use of Bayraktar TB2 drones against the Russian invasion troops, destroying an impressive number of tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters and troops (Ukrainian soldiers even created a song to celebrate this drone). But the Russian air defense has succeeded in shooting down some of them, namely with S-300PM2 Favorit missiles (NATO reporting name: SA-20A Gargoyle). Actual figures are unknown.
The Bayraktar TB2 is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE), Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle capable of conducting Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and armed attack missions. A whole system consists of a Bayraktar TB2 armed/UAV platform, a ground control station, a ground data terminal, a remote display terminal, an advanced base with a power generator and trailer modules.
The Bayraktar TB2 can be armed with MAM-L and MAM-C laser-guided bombs, and UMTAS long-range air-to-surface anti-tank missiles. The MAM bombs were specially designed for UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and light attack aircraft with low payload capacity. The drone has a payload capacity of 150 kg maximum and can carry four missiles or bombs, two under each wing.
The Bayraktar TB2 can fly at a maximum speed of 130 km/h with an operational flight altitude of 8,230 meters. It has a 24hour flight endurance and a communication range of 150 km. The drone has a 12-m wingspan and a maximum take-off weight of 650 kg.
Baykar Bayraktar TB2 in Ukrainian service
