Ukraine's secret weapon: Bayraktar drones still dominate skies
Ukrainian military personnel conducted an extensive interview discussing the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones. These machines decimated Russian forces in the early stages of the war and have gradually disappeared from front-line reports. However, this does not mean they have stopped being used. So, what's the story?
Bayraktar TB2 is classified as a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle. Each of these machines measures approximately 21 feet in length and has a wingspan of 39 feet. It can ascend to an altitude of up to 26,000 feet and reach speeds of 125 mph, carrying up to 331 pounds of payload. This payload can include an observation module with a thermal imaging camera or an AESA radar, as well as weaponry mounted on four pylons designed for this purpose.
Bayraktar TB2 in Ukraine
The Bayraktar TB2 can perform reconnaissance or strike missions depending on the selected equipment. This was clearly demonstrated during the war in Ukraine. Initially, the Turkish drones attacked Russian forces and inflicted significant losses on them.
However, over time, the situation changed, partly due to the significantly improved air defenses deployed by the invaders. As Ukrainian soldiers emphasize, the Bayraktar TB2s remain very useful and necessary equipment, currently serving to conduct reconnaissance and direct artillery fire.
The fact that Ukraine still actively uses drones produced in Turkey is confirmed by, among others, the head of Ukrainian intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov. As he points out, Ukraine achieved "extraordinary results" thanks to Bayraktar TB2 drones, especially at the beginning of the war. Currently, they are used, among other places, over the Black Sea. Ukrainians value them for their effectiveness and reliability.
Armament of Bayraktar TB2 drones
The armament used in these Turkish drones primarily consists of laser-guided MAM-L and MAM-C bombs. MAM-L bombs weigh about 49 pounds and range up to 9 miles. There are three warhead options: fragmentation, cumulative, or thermobaric. MAM-C bombs weigh just under 15 pounds and range about 5 miles. They are suitable for destroying, for example, lightly armored vehicles.
