Thread by @annalesbelli

-Sky Giants- 🧵

The Bayraktar TB-2

The TB-2 is a medium altitude long endurance unmanned combataerial vehicle (MALE UCAV), made in Turkey by Bayrack. (1/5)
#svagaiature #aviationlovers #UkraineInvasion #tech #Turkey #aviationdaily #AutonomousVehicles

The project began when the USA put an embargo on Turkey for UAV, due the fear of them being used to taget PKK groups inside and outside of the nation. Bayrack started developing a drone on the request of turkish government, and in 2014 the TB-12 made its maiden flight. (2/5)

A year later the weapon system had been already tested.
Many problems, regarding its components arose with time: the engine used, made in Austria, was only certified for civilian use; while parts of its imaging system and bomb rack was suspended... (3/5)

... after discorvered being used on the military drone.

The design of the TB-2 has an inverted V-tail structure, and the thrust is generated by a two blade propeller. The body is made out of carbon fiber and alluminium. (4/5)

The UAV is controlled on the ground by a team of 3 people, but it can also fly, taxi, takeoff and land autonomously.

The TB-12 has seen action and proved its value in the Nagorno-Karabakh war (2020) and more recently in the russian invasion of Ukraine. (5/5)