The Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) hit a stationary sea target with pinpoint accuracy during its first test firing of the IHA-122 Supersonic Missile.
Baykar press release
The Bayraktar TB3, which recently marked a historic first in aviation by successfully taking off and landing on a short-runway vessel, continues to advance through its munitions integration tests, achieving yet another key milestone in its development program.
Fired IHA-122 Supersonic Missile
On Tuesday, March 25, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV took off from Dalaman, Muğla, carrying the IHA-122 Supersonic Missile developed by Roketsan. Ascending for its firing test, the Bayraktar TB3 achieved a direct hit on a 6-by-6-meter floating target at sea from a distance exceeding 50 kilometers on its very first attempt.
During the firing test, a Bayraktar TB2 UCAV performed laser target designation from the air. The target designated by the Bayraktar TB2 was subsequently destroyed by the Bayraktar TB3. This test successfully demonstrated the coordinated ability of two airborne UCAVs to perform laser designation and target engagement. Baykar will continue Bayraktar TB3’s munitions and payload integration tests according to the established development schedule.
Bayraktar TB3 UCAV Hits Sea Target at First Supersonic Missile Test-Firing
TB3 hits the bull’s eye (Screenshot from Baykar’s video)
Bayraktar TB3 UCAV Hits Sea Target at First Supersonic Missile Test-Firing
The firing moment of TB3 (Screenshot from Baykar’s video)
Made Aviation History
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, developed indigenously by Baykar, successfully took off from the short runway with a 12-degree ski-jump ramp on board the TCG Anadolu vessel on November 19, 2024. Conducting a historic 46-minute test flight at the intersection of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, the Bayraktar TB3 achieved a global first by landing successfully on the same short runway without using any landing support equipment.
Continuing its successful shipboard trials, the Bayraktar TB3 performed two additional take-offs and landings without support equipment during the second test flight, as TCG Anadolu sailed off the coast of Çanakkale. The indigenously developed UCAV successfully executed all test parameters, completing the test flight at an average cruising altitude of 20,000 feet.
Reaching New Heights with Indigenous Engine
On June 25, 2024, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV successfully completed a High-Altitude System Performance Test at Baykar Flight Training and Test Center in Keşan, Edirne, reaching an altitude of 36,310 feet. Powered by the domestically developed PD-170 engine by TEI, the indigenous UCAV thus surpassed another critical milestone. Meanwhile, Türkiye’s national aviation altitude record remains with the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV—also developed indigenously by Baykar—which stands at 45,118 feet.
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV has accumulated a total flight time of 967 hours and 55 minutes throughout its test flights to date. In a long-endurance flight test conducted on December 20, 2023, the indigenous UCAV remained airborne continuously for 32 hours, covering a distance of 5,700 kilometers.
Indigenous UCAV, Indigenous Camera
On March 26, 2024, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV flew for the first time with the ASELFLIR-500 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System, indigenously developed by Aselsan. During the test, the integration of the ASELFLIR-500, which offers superior performance compared to its global counterparts, was successfully completed.
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, featuring foldable wings along with advanced capabilities, is set to become the leading unmanned aerial vehicle in its class. Equipped with Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communication capabilities, the indigenous UCAV will be operable from very long distances. With these capabilities, it will serve as a force multiplier for Türkiye’s deterrent power by conducting reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence, and strike missions against overseas targets using its smart munitions.
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