First look at the new Bayraktar TB3, which will have the ability to operate from aircraft carriers

Turkish drone company Baykar released the first good quality photos of its new Bayraktar TB3 unmanned aerial system (UAS), which is the evolution of its successful TB2, and will be able to take off and land on aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships with a ski jump type angled takeoff runway.

According to the company, the public presentation of the Bayraktar TB3 will take place for the first time during TEKNOFEST 2023, which will be held at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport between April 27 and May 1.

TB3 prototype, during the visit of the country’s president to Baykar’s facilities. Photo: Baykar.

The Bayraktar TB3, which can be seen on the production line in photographs taken during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to the Özdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center on Sunday, will begin flight testing this year.

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The new Bayraktar TB3

This new product from Baykar, will be the world’s first armed UAV with the ability to take off and land from short runway ships, such as TCG Anadolu, with its folding wing structure.

Bayraktar TB3’s capabilities will also be a major innovation for UAVs in this class. The TB3, which will have the ability to communicate beyond line of sight through the use of a satellite data link, will be able to be controlled from very long distances.

Thanks to the use of smart munitions and its improved performance (compared to TB2), the new TB3 will be able to perform reconnaissance-surveillance, intelligence and offensive missions against long-range targets.

Kizilelma

Another unmanned system that will be on display during TEKNOFEST 2023 is the KIZILELMA, an unmanned combat aircraft designed to perform a multitude of military missions, such as air-to-air and air-to-ground offensive actions, air defense, escort, close air support (CAS), reconnaissance and intelligence, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and destruction of enemy air defenses (DEAD).

Both the Bayraktar TB3 and Kizilelma will be part of the embarked combat wing on the light aircraft carrier/amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, ushering in a new era in naval air warfare.