Turkey's Baykar fine-tunes Bayraktar TB3 drone, touting 32‑hour airborne capacity
7:27 AM EST, December 23, 2023
The Bayraktar TB2 drones gained recognition during the war in Ukraine, where they played a significant role in the extensive destruction of Russian equipment. The Polish Army also equipped several of these machines.
It's known that the Turkish company is already developing the successor to the widely acclaimed Bayraktar TB2 model. The Bayraktar TB3 drone was first announced at the start of 2023, but its inaugural flight only took place in October 2023. The manufacturer has recently confirmed another successful test of the device.
A 32-hour airborne test
The manufacturer revealed that the Bayraktar TB3 drone has undergone further testing. This marked the 13th flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle, with tests being carried out at the Akıncı Training and Air Test Center in Çorlu, located in the Tekirdağ province.
During this round of testing, the TB3 was subjected to a long-duration flight trial where it stayed airborne at an average altitude of 65,617 feet for 32 hours. Throughout these tests, the drone traversed approximately 3,541 miles.
Bayraktar TB3: Superior to Bayraktar TB2
While the Bayraktar TB3 is similar to the TB2 model, it is significantly larger in size and nearly double the weight of its predecessor. The unmanned aerial vehicle has a starting weight of 3,197 pounds. The designers have included 6 weapon suspension points, which coupled with a substantial payload (estimated at 617 pounds) will allow it to utilize a broad range of modern, high-precision weapons.
The new model is powered by a D-170 engine developed by the Turkish company TUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI). The TB3, according to specifications, can reach a top speed of approximately 186 mph and has the capability of remaining airborne for over 50 hours.
Prepared for new missions
The Bayraktar TB3 is poised to be the world's first armed aerial vehicle capable of taking off and landing on ships with short runways. The TCG Anadolu, a universal amphibious-assault ship employed as an aircraft carrier and commissioned at the beginning of 2023, serves as an example.
Upon completion of testing, between 30 to 40 drones can be stationed onboard the ship. TCG Anadolu will also accommodate a TB3 command center, enabling the simultaneous operation of at least 10 drones.
