Turkish Bayraktar TB3 Drone Soars to New Heights with Domestically-Produced Engine
Summary
Since its inaugural flight on October 27, 2023, the Bayraktar TB3 has undergone various performance tests, showcasing its operational capabilities. On March 26, 2024, the UAV was equipped with the locally developed ASELFLIR-500 system, enhancing its reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities.
The TB3 is designed for medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) operations and can operate from aircraft carriers like the TCG Anadolu, thanks to its foldable wings. The UAV has a length of 8.35 meters, a wingspan of 14 meters, and supports a maximum takeoff weight of 1,450 kilograms with a payload capacity of 280 kilograms.
Baykar has significantly contributed to defense export markets, with exports accounting for 83% of its revenue since 2003. In 2023, Baykar's exports amounted to $1.8 billion, establishing it as the world's largest UAV exporter with contracts across 34 countries.
Indigenous Powerplant
The powerplant of the TB3 is positioned midway between the GA-ASI Predator and Reaper UAVs. The Reaper has a 950-shaft-horsepower (712 kW) turboprop engine, compared to the Predator's 115 hp (86 kW) piston engine. The powerplant is crucial to UAV speed, power, and payload. The greater power allows the Reaper to carry 15 times more ordnance payload and cruise at about three times the speed of the MQ-1.
The TEI-PD170 engine has undergone 10,000 hours of calibration and testing activities before proceeding to the mass production stage. It made its first flight with the ANKA platform on December 27, 2018, and continues its flights with AKSUNGUR and BAYRAKTAR TB3.
During its test flights to date, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV has remained airborne for a total of 327 hours and 35 minutes. On December 20, 2023, the indigenous aircraft flew for 32 hours during a long flight test, covering a distance of 5,700 kilometers in the sky. The Bayraktar TB3 reaches a maximum speed of 160 knots (300 km/h) and a cruise speed of 125 knots (232 km/h), with an operational range extending to 1,000 knots (1,900 km).
The Baykar Bayraktar TB3, a Turkish armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by defense company Baykar, has set a new altitude record by reaching 33,000 feet during a high-altitude performance test, reported on May 3, 2024. The test took place at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Tekirdag's Corlu district. The UAV was powered by the domestically developed PD-170 engine produced by TUSAS Engine Industries Inc. (TEI), marking a significant milestone in the utilization of indigenous engines.
Developed by Baykar indigenously and originally, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV successfully completed its High-Altitude System Performance Test, breaking the altitude record of 33,000 with its indigenous engine. (Picture source: Baykar)
Since its inaugural flight on October 27, 2023, coinciding with the centennial celebration of the Republic of Türkiye, the Bayraktar TB3 has undergone various performance tests at medium and high altitudes, showcasing its operational capabilities. A notable development occurred on March 26, when the UAV was equipped with the locally developed ASELFLIR-500 system, enhancing its reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities.
The TB3 is designed for medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) operations and is capable of short-range takeoffs and landings. Notably, it can operate from aircraft carriers like the TCG Anadolu, thanks to its foldable wings—a modification necessitated by Turkey's exclusion from the F-35 procurement program, which led to adjustments in the ship’s specifications to accommodate UAVs such as the Bayraktar TB3.
The development of the TB3 was publicly announced by Selçuk Bayraktar on October 29, 2020, highlighting the integration of a high-performance domestic engine, presumed to be the PD-170 or its derivative. The first computer-generated images of the TB3 on the TCG Anadolu were released on July 21, 2021, displaying its innovative design that facilitates operations alongside the jet-engine equipped Bayraktar Kızılelma.
Key milestones in the development timeline of the TB3 include the unveiling of the first prototype on March 27, 2023, a successful test run on October 13, 2023, and initial take-off and landing tests on October 20, 2023. The UAV's maiden flight occurred on October 27, 2023, and it achieved another significant milestone on November 11, 2023, flying with its landing gear retracted for the first time.
The Bayraktar TB3 has a length of 8.35 meters and a wingspan of 14 meters. It supports a maximum takeoff weight of 1,450 kilograms and a payload capacity of 280 kilograms. Powered by the TEI PD170 engine, it reaches a maximum speed of 160 knots (300 km/h) and a cruise speed of 125 knots (232 km/h). Its operational range extends to 1,000 knots (1,900 km). The TB3 is equipped with six hardpoints for various laser-guided munitions and features advanced avionics, including the expected integration of interchangeable EO/IR/LD imaging and targeting sensor systems or a Multi-Mode AESA Radar.
Baykar has significantly contributed to defense export markets, with exports accounting for 83% of its revenue since 2003. In 2023, Baykar's exports amounted to $1.8 billion, representing over 90% of its income and one-third of the total sector exports, establishing it as the world's largest UAV exporter with contracts across 34 countries.
POWERED BY INDIGENOUS ENGINE, BAYRAKTAR TB3 UCAV CLIMBS TO RECORD ALTITUDE
Developed by Baykar indigenously and originally, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV successfully completed its High-Altitude System Performance Test, breaking the altitude record of 33,000 with its indigenous engine.
Tekirdağ-Çorlu
2 May 2024
Baykar continues to test the Bayraktar TB3 armed unmanned aerial vehicle, which it developed indigenously and originally, successfully. The company’s new UCAV, which completed its maiden flight on 27 October 2023 on the occasion of the Republic’s centennial, has been passing medium- and high-altitude performance tests with flying colors. It recently completed another test, breaking a new record in the process.
PD-170, an indigenous engine developed by TEI,
ALTITUDE RECORD WITH INDIGENOUS ENGINE
During a recent flight at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, climbed to 33,000 feet as it passed the High-Altitude System Performance Test. Having taken off with PD-170, an indigenous engine developed by TEI, the UCAV climbed to the highest altitude that any aircraft has reached to date with an indigenous engine during the test. Accordingly, the Bayraktar TB3 reached a major milestone in the history of Turkish aviation with its new altitude record. The Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV, an original product that Baykar developed indigenously, holds the altitude record in Turkish aviation with 45,118 feet.
The TEI-PD170 turbodiesel aviation engine has a capacity to generate 172 HP (± 2). It has a two-stage serial turbocharging system. The TEI-PD170 engine, which can run on JP-8 or Jet-A1 fuel, is well ahead of its competitors with a dry weight of 162 kg. With the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) and the software thereof, that are manufactured and developed within the bounds of TEI's possibilities, the TEI-PD170 engine, which has been developed on the basis of the civil aviation standards and has 45,000 ft. service ceiling.
This engine places the TB3 powerplant midway between the GA-ASI Predator and Reaper. The Reaper has a 950-shaft-horsepower (712 kW) turboprop engine (compared to the Predator's 115 hp (86 kW) piston engine). The powerplant is key to UAV speed, power, and payload. The greater power allows the Reaper to carry 15 times more ordnance payload and cruise at about three times the speed of the MQ-1.
Proceeding to the mass production stage after 10,000 hours of calibration and testing activities, the TEI-PD170 engine made its first flight with ANKA platform on December 27, 2018, and continues its flights with AKSUNGUR and BAYRAKTAR TB3.
TOTAL FLIGHT TIME: 327 HOURS
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV remained airborne for 327 hours and 35 minutes during its test flights to date. The indigenous aircraft flew for 32 hours during a long flight test on 20 December 2023, covering a distance of 5700 kilometers in the sky.
INDIGENOUS UCAV, INDIGENOUS CAMERA
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV flew for the first time with Aselsan’s indigenous ASELFLIR-500 camera pod on 26 March 2024. During that test, Baykar successfully completed the integration of the ASELFLIR-500 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Targeting System, which outperforms all similar products worldwide.
FIRST FLIGHT FROM TCG ANADOLU DUE IN 2024
The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV will be the world’s first armed drone capable of taking off and landing on short-runway vessels like TCG Anadolu thanks to its foldable wings. Selçuk Bayraktar, Baykar’s Chairman and CTO, had previously announced that the company plans to start testing the Bayraktar TB3 aboard TCG Anadolu within the year 2024.
The Bayraktar TB3’s capabilities will represent a major leap forward for unmanned aerial vehicles in its class. The indigenous drone will have BLOS communication capabilities which will make it possible for it to be operated from vast distances. This will enable the Bayraktar TB3 to conduct reconnaissance-surveillance, intelligence and offensive missions (with its smart munitions) against overseas targets, emerging as a force multiplier for Türkiye’s deterrent power.
EXPORT CHAMPION
Baykar, which has been financing all its projects with its own resources since its inception, has obtained 83% of its total revenue from exports since the beginning of the UAV R&D process in 2003. According to the data of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) in 2021 and 2022, it became the export leader of the defense and aviation sector. Baykar, announced as the export champion of the sector by the Presidency of Defense Industries in 2023, realized exports worth 1.8 billion dollars last year. Baykar, which has obtained more than 90% of its income from exports in recent years, single-handedly accounted for one-third of the exports in the defense and aviation sector in 2023. Baykar, the world's largest UAV exporter, has 97.5% of its currently signed contracts sourced from exports. Export agreements have been signed with a total of 33 countries for Bayraktar TB2 UAV and with 9 countries so far for Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV.
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