Turkey’s Combat Drones Show Off AI and Strike Precision

Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturers are continuing their rapid innovation, pushing the boundaries of drone capabilities and showcasing significant technological milestones.

Baykar’s widely known Bayraktar TB2 recently completed a pioneering test, deliberately entering a spin mid-flight and successfully recovering autonomously. The company states this is the first time a weaponized UAV has demonstrated the ability to recover from such a maneuver, significantly increasing mission survivability and operational resilience.

Baykar is also developing a new version of the drone, named TB2T-AI, which will integrate advanced artificial intelligence for enhanced autonomous functions. In a separate demonstration, the TB2 successfully launched the 30kg Kemankes 1 cruise missile, capable of reaching a target up to 200km away.

Meanwhile, the TB3 UAV conducted a firing test with Roketsan’s supersonic UAV-122 missile, hitting a 6×6 meter floating target from beyond the visual horizon. Its first test on 25 March saw a successful strike from over 27 nautical miles away.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is also advancing its UAV lineup. The Aksungur MALE drone successfully deployed Aselsan’s LGK-81 and LGK-82 laser-guided munitions from 30,000 feet in March. Additionally, TAI’s Anka III drone demonstrated new multi-platform capabilities by deploying a Super Simsek high-subsonic UAV mid-flight. The Super Simsek performed a fully autonomous 50-minute mission.

TAI notes that the Super Simsek is designed as a multi-role platform capable of executing both air-to-ground and electronic warfare missions, offering flexible payload configurations for diverse combat environments.

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