Bayraktar TB2 by Baykar: status and timeline

Bayraktar TB2

Provide affordable, domestically produced surveillance and strike capability that smaller and mid-sized militaries can deploy and sustain.

ScalingStage 5 of 5

30+ countries operate in active service. Extensive combat use. Focus shifting to Kizilelma.

Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · TB2 exports to 30+ countries

Bayraktar TB2 first flight2012Complete.
Turkish Air Force operational deployment2015Complete.
TB2 exports to 30+ countriesTarget 2015Current milestone.

Upcoming

2015TB2 exports to 30+ countries (next)

Current obstacles

Datalink resilienceAdversaries jam or intercept datalinks. TB2 relies on satellite comms in contested areas, which can be expensive and sometimes latency-prone.

Physics limits

Turboprop speed is limitedMaximum speed ~200 km/h is slower than jet fighters, so TB2 cannot evade a fast-moving threat. It survives through altitude, loiter endurance and small size.

How it works

3 parts

Long endurance

Turboprop efficiency

A piston engine and propeller are more fuel-efficient than turbojets for medium speeds and altitudes, allowing TB2 to loiter for hours.

Remote operation

Datalink control

Operators at a ground station control the TB2 via satellite or LOS datalink, seeing camera feeds and directing sensors in real-time.

Modular payload

Surveillance and strike

TB2 can carry electro-optical pods for surveillance or small precision munitions for strike, depending on the mission.

Spec sheet

Spec	Bayraktar TB2
Maximum takeoff weight	700 kg^R (reported)
Service ceiling	20,000 ft^R (reported)
Endurance	18+ hours^R (reported)
Payload capacity	150 kg^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Peer comparison

Military drones & autonomy peers

Spec	Bayraktar TB2	Baykar Bayraktar Kizilelma	Tekever AR3
Maximum takeoff weight	700 kg^R (reported)	8,500 kg^R (reported)	25 kg^R (reported)
Endurance	18+ hours^R (reported)	—	16 hours^R (reported)
Payload capacity	150 kg^R (reported)	1,500 kg^R (reported)	4 kg^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Papers & demos

1 item

2012demo
Bayraktar TB2 first flight (opens bayraktar.technology)The turboprop tactical drone that would become the world's most widely exported UCAV in its class.

About Baykar

The team behind Bayraktar TB2

Baykar

Unmanned combat aircraft, Bayraktar drones, jet-powered UCAV

Turkish defense company Baykar designs and manufactures Bayraktar unmanned combat aircraft, including the turboprop TB2 and jet-powered Kizilelma. Products exported to 30+ countries.

Bayraktar TB2 exports to 30+ countries; widely used operationally across multiple conflicts.
Kizilelma achieved first unmanned BVR air-to-air kill (November 2025); Indonesia ordered 12 aircraft.
Kizilelma serial production complete 2025; Turkish Air Force induction Q1 2026; Indonesia deliveries 2028.

bayraktar.technology (opens bayraktar.technology)Company profile →

Founded: 198442 yrs
Headquarters: Türkiye
Status: Private
Valuation: private
Works in: AviationMilitary drones & autonomy
Coverage: 2 programs · 2 updateslatest 6 May 2026checked 11 Oct
Customers: Indonesian Ministry of Defence (opens janes.com)Turkish Ministry of National Defence (opens bayraktar.technology)
Suppliers: ASELSAN (opens aselsan.com.tr)TÜBİTAK SAGE (opens tubitak.gov.tr)
People: Haluk Bayraktar (opens en.wikipedia.org)CEOSelçuk Bayraktar (opens en.wikipedia.org)Chief Technology Officer

Spec

Bayraktar TB2

Maximum takeoff weight

700 kg^R (reported)

Service ceiling

20,000 ft^R (reported)

Endurance

18+ hours^R (reported)

Payload capacity

150 kg^R (reported)

Spec

Bayraktar TB2

Baykar Bayraktar Kizilelma

Tekever AR3

Maximum takeoff weight

700 kg^R (reported)

8,500 kg^R (reported)

25 kg^R (reported)

Endurance

18+ hours^R (reported)

—

16 hours^R (reported)

Payload capacity

150 kg^R (reported)

1,500 kg^R (reported)

4 kg^R (reported)