Recording, Turkey's Latest Combat Drone Bayraktar TB3 Reaches 11 Kilometers High

Turkish TB3 Bayraktar Drone (Source: Baykar)

JAKARTA - Turkey's new unmanned air combat vehicle (UCAV), specially designed for aircraft carriers, has reached a new milestone with record flying altitudes so far, Baykar's creators announced last month.

The manufacturer said the Bayraktar TB3 drone reached an altitude of 36,310 feet (11 kilometers) as part of identification of high-altitude systems and performance tests.

In a statement on its website, Baykar said the achievement was obtained during a test flight at the Baykar Aviation Training and Test Center, Ketangan District, Edirne using a domestically made PD-170 engine, as quoted July 2.

This achievement brings the TB3 closer to the record national flight height of 45,118 feet (1.7 kilometers) held by UCAV Bayraktar Ak Totalcncul, which was also developed by Baykar, as quoted by the Daily Sabah.

The base for the Bayraktar TB3 takeoff during testing imitated conditions on the TCG Anadolu deck, the Turkish Navy's amphibious assault ship, where it will be stationed.

With its folding wing structure, Bayraktar TB3 will be the first UCAV capable of taking off and landing from ships with short runways such as TCG Anadolu. The company plans to start testing on the Anadolu TCG in 2024, said Baykar Chairperseon, Bayraktar's Celliumuk.

So far, TB3 has recorded flight times of 445 hours and 3 minutes during testing, as well as completed flights for 32 hours covering a distance of 3,541 miles (5,700 kilometers).

Baykar-produced Turkish drones have played an important role in various conflicts around the world, including in Ukraine and Azerbaijan, where they are used for precise surveillance and attack.

These drones have been recognized as capable of changing the dynamics of warfare, providing important support for operations, and demonstrating the effectiveness of unmanned aerial systems in modern combat.