Turkey’s Bayraktar TB3 UCAV unmanned combat aerial vehicle has entered mass production and is expected to be exported within the next five to six months, according to Haluk Bayraktar, chairman of SAHA Istanbul and chief executive of Baykar Defense Company. Speaking at the SAHA EXPO 2024 in Istanbul, Bayraktar said major deals were finalized, including export contracts worth $6.2 billion. “This year, 1,478 companies participated, with 766 international companies and 712 local firms. In total, 123 signing ceremonies were held,” he added, marking a record achievement for the Turkish defense sector.
Bayraktar emphasized that the TB3 UCAV builds on the success of its predecessor, the TB2, with the added capability of landing on naval platforms, making it a versatile addition to Turkey’s growing arsenal of defense technology.
In addition to the achievements of the private sector, numerous contracts were signed with the Ministry of Defense of Turkey and major defense players such as ASELSAN, TUBİTAK and Roketsan, strengthening cooperation efforts within the sector. Baykar himself signed agreements with suppliers for camera systems. Bayraktar noted that Turkey’s defense exports reached $5.5 billion last year and pointed to a significant increase in the production of artillery ammunition, particularly driven by the private sector.