Turkey’s cutting-edge Bayraktar TB3 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), developed by Baykar, has achieved another historic milestone in its development journey. The naval-capable UCAV successfully performed its first-ever live-fire test, hitting its designated target with Roketsan’s MAM-T smart munition. The test was conducted on January 17 from Baykar’s Flight Training and Test Center in Keşan, Edirne, marking the first time the TB3 has been armed and fired live ordnance. The operation utilized ASELSAN’s ASELFLIR-500 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System, confirming the UCAV’s precision strike capabilities.

This latest success follows a series of pioneering achievements by the Bayraktar TB3, including its world-first takeoff and landing on the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship without the use of arresting or catapult systems. During that historic flight on November 19, the TB3 took off from the ship’s 12-degree ski-jump ramp and landed flawlessly, validating its short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities for carrier-based operations. Subsequent tests conducted off the coast of Çanakkale demonstrated multiple successful takeoffs and landings, reinforcing the TB3’s operational readiness for naval missions.

To date, the Bayraktar TB3 has logged over 887 flight hours, including a record 32-hour endurance flight on December 20, 2023, covering 5,700 kilometers without landing. Powered by TEI’s domestically developed PD-170 turbo-diesel engine, the UCAV reached 36,310 feet during its high-altitude performance test in June 2024, demonstrating its reliability and efficiency in extended operations.

The TB3 is equipped with foldable wings for compact storage aboard ships and will feature beyond-line-of-sight communication, allowing it to be operated from long distances. Combined with its ability to carry precision-guided munitions like MAM-T, the aircraft is designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions over maritime and transnational theaters. Integration of ASELSAN’s ASELFLIR-500 system — one of the world’s highest-performing electro-optical targeting payloads — further enhances its ability to detect, track, and neutralize targets with extreme precision.

With its advanced indigenous design, versatile mission capabilities, and seamless integration of Baykar, Roketsan, ASELSAN, and TEI technologies, the Bayraktar TB3 represents a major leap forward in Turkey’s defense autonomy. Once operational from the TCG Anadolu, it will enable Turkey to project unmanned air power from sea to distant shores, significantly strengthening the country’s deterrence and operational reach.