The Baykar Bayraktar TB3 is a Turkish medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) capable of short-range landing and take-off, produced by Baykar. It is currently being developed due to the lack of aircraft to be deployed on the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship. According to the initial plans the ship was expected to be equipped with Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II fighter jets but following the removal of Turkey from the procurement program, the vessel entered a modification process to allow it to be able to accommodate UAVs.
Development
In February 2021, the chairman of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) Ismail Demir made public a new type of UAV being developed by Baykar that is planned to be stationed on Turkey's first amphibious assault ship, TCG Anadolu. The aircraft being developed is a naval version of the Bayraktar TB2, powered by an engine developed by Turkish company Tusaş Engine Industries (TEI). Demir said that between 30 and 50 folding-winged Bayraktar TB3 UAVs will be able to land and take off using the deck of Anadolu. On 27 March 2023, Selcuk Bayraktar the Chief Technological Officer (CTO) of Baykar Technology shared the first image of TB3 drone as a gift of Ramadan. The first flight of drone is scheduled in this year.
Specifications (Bayraktar TB3)
Data from official Baykar infographic.
General characteristics
Crew: 0 onboard
Length: Height: Wing span: Max take-off weight: Payload capacity: Powerplant: 1 × TEI PD170 (expected)
Performance
Maximum speed: Cruise speed: Communication range: line-of-sight propagation
Armaments
Hardpoints: 6 hardpoints for laser-guided smart munition, with provisions to carry combinations of : L-UMTAS (Long Range Anti tank Missile System) MAM: MAM-C, MAM-L and MAM-T precision-guided munitions Roketsan Cirit (70 mm Missile System) TUBITAK-SAGE BOZOK Laser Guided Rockets TUBITAK-SAGE TOGAN Air-to-surface launched 81 mm mortar munition TUBITAK-SAGE KUZGUN Modular joint ammunition KUZGUN-TjM Turbojet engine variant with range of 245 kilometers and KUZGUN-SS Free Soaring variant range of 110 kilometers variants in use
Avionics
Interchangeable EO/IR/LD imaging and targeting sensor systems or Multi Mode AESA Radar: Aselsan CATS EO/IR/LD imaging and targeting sensor (expected)