Company / Aerial Drones
Baykar
Turkish developer and manufacturer of the Bayraktar TB2, TB3 and Akıncı combat drones and the Kızılelma unmanned fighter aircraft.
Istanbul, TürkiyeAerial Drones systems
About the company
About Baykar
Baykar was founded in 1984 by Özdemir Bayraktar and is headquartered in Istanbul. The company describes itself as Turkey's first technology company to develop indigenous UAVs; Haluk Bayraktar is its CEO.
Its best-known product is the Bayraktar TB2 tactical combat drone with a 12 m wingspan, an endurance of 27 hours and, according to the company, more than 1.25 million flight hours. The larger Bayraktar Akıncı (20 m wingspan) carries a national AESA radar, the Bayraktar TB3 is designed to operate from the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, and the Bayraktar Kızılelma is an unmanned fighter aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 8.5 tonnes. The portfolio also includes the Bayraktar Mini UAV, the Kemankeş mini cruise missiles and the Bayraktar Kalkan.
According to Baykar, exports accounted for 2.2 billion US dollars of its roughly 2.5 billion US dollars in revenue in 2025; it has signed export contracts for the TB2 with 36 countries and for the Akıncı with 16. In 2025 Baykar completed its acquisition of the Italian aircraft manufacturer Piaggio Aerospace.
In the news32 stories
Bayraktar Akinci shoots down target UAV over the Black Sea with Roketsan Sungur missile
After Kemankes 1 and Eren, now Sungur: in the test off Sinop, the Roketsan air defence missile scored a direct hit on the target aircraft. Baykar's Bayraktar Akinci thus adds a further munition class to its arsenal against aerial targets.
Kizilelma: production version S2 fires live from its internal weapons bay for the first time in Çorlu
Roketsan's Teber-82 and Aselsan's Tolun scored direct hits: Baykar has integrated the internal weapons bay on the Kizilelma. The unmanned combat aircraft is meant to penetrate dense air defences as a result.
Combat drone Kizilelma: Baykar hits naval target with supersonic Jet-230 missile at over 120 kilometres
A combat drone fires a supersonic missile: in a flight test at Merzifon, the Bayraktar Kizilelma hit a naval target with a Roketsan Jet-230. It is the latest in a series of firsts for the Turkish programme.
LBA Systems: Italy approves Leonardo and Baykar drone joint venture under strict conditions
In June, the Italian government approved LBA Systems, the joint venture of Leonardo and Baykar – with sales restrictions and the “golden power” rule. The conditions show the military, industrial and security-policy importance of the cooperation.
Unmanned systems in teaming: Leonardo M-346FA flies in formation with Baykar's Kizilelma
In Çorlu, Leonardo and Baykar have taken crewed-uncrewed teaming from simulation into the air. Further flight tests are planned for the K-SWARM programme, which aims to bring crewed jets and unmanned systems closer together.
Combat drones from Turkey: Indonesia buys twelve Bayraktar Kizilelma UCAV for its air force
Twelve Kizilelma firm, forty-eight more as an option: Indonesia is turning to Turkey for combat drones. Global Data sees this as a leap for the country's air warfare – and points to local production, teaming with the Kaan and the Strait of Malacca.
Combat drone Bayraktar Akinci receives Al-Tariq precision munitions from Edge
Two new agreements at SAHA 2026: Edge from the Emirates and Baykar from Türkiye are bringing the Al-Tariq munition to the Akinci combat drone and plan to market each other's products in future.
Bayraktar TB3 for the 'Cavour': Italian Navy to acquire Turkish drone via Leonardo
Italy apparently intends to procure the Bayraktar TB3 for the aircraft carrier 'Cavour' (C 550). Before a Senate committee, Vice Admiral Berutti Bergotto named Leonardo as the procurement route and surveillance and armed missions as its tasks.
Kamikaze drone K2: Baykar unveils AI-supported swarm drone
With the K2, Baykar is also following the AI trend: the kamikaze drone is designed to fly in swarms, navigate without GNSS and reach more than 2,000 kilometres. First formation flights over the Gulf of Saros have been completed.
Military drones at “Steadfast Dart 2026”: Baykar TB3 launches from “TCG Anadolu” in freezing cold
First time in an amphibious operation and first time in a NATO exercise: at “Steadfast Dart 2026” in the Baltic Sea, the Turkish Navy deployed three Bayraktar TB3 military drones from the deck of “TCG Anadolu”. The major exercise involves around 10,000 personnel from 13 nations.
Kizilelma formation flight: two prototypes fly together autonomously for the first time
After the reported BVR kill, Baykar has reached the next milestone: at Çorlu, two Kizilelma prototypes operated in the same airspace simultaneously for the first time – led by an autonomous “Combat Pilot”.
Drone industry: Leonardo and Baykar to manufacture in Italy through LBA Systems
The TB2, TB3, Akinci and Kizilelma are to be built at three Italian sites. What the LBA Systems joint venture plans for the drone industry in Europe – and why certification for civil airspace remains the biggest hurdle.
Combat drone Kizilelma: Baykar UCAV engages F-16 beyond visual range in test
Off Sinop, the Turkish stealth combat drone Bayraktar Kizilelma engaged a jet beyond visual range with a Gökdogan missile. What role the UCAV could play in the GCAP programme in future – and what remains open about the test.
Combat drone Bayraktar Kizilelma: Aselsan's Toygun targeting system sits inside a stealth UCAV fuselage
A targeting system previously reserved for fifth-generation fighter jets is now inside a Turkish combat drone: Baykar has integrated Aselsan's Toygun into the Kizilelma and tested it in two flights. According to the manufacturer, the way is clear for series integration.
Kizilelma combat drone: Bayraktar Kizilelma hits both targets in first live-fire weapons test
Baykar reports the first live-fire weapons test of its Kizilelma combat drone as a success: prototype PT-3 fired munitions from Aselsan and Roketsan at Tekirdağ. The aircraft is due to enter active service with the Turkish Armed Forces in 2026.
Bayraktar TB2: Croatian Armed Forces test their six new drones
Croatia ordered six Bayraktar TB2 plus equipment for 67 million euros, and tests with Baykar specialists are now under way in Velika Gorica. According to current information, full operational capability will be reached by the end of September.
Bayraktar TB3 combat drone: Baykar completes trials on the aircraft carrier “TCG Anadolu”
Four sorties in one day, all take-offs and landings autonomous: with tests in the Gulf of Saros, the Bayraktar TB3 combat drone has completed its trials on “TCG Anadolu”. The Turkish Ministry of Defence considers the tests a success.
Military drones as a gift: Türkiye hands two Bayraktar TB2 to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina receives drones, control stations and training free of charge. Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia are also relying on military drones – from the Bayraktar TB2 and Chinese CH-95 to domestic developments.
Combat drone Bayraktar TB3 hits naval target with IHA-122 supersonic missile
A naval target more than 50 kilometres away, hit on the first attempt: Baykar's TB3 combat drone has tested Roketsan's new supersonic missile. At the same time, Baykar is deepening its cooperation with Leonardo.
Combat drones for Morocco: air force receives first Bayraktar Akinci from Baykar
The largest Turkish-built drone is now also flying for Morocco. At the same time, the country is procuring the Chinese TB-001 Scorpion – further expanding its fleet of combat drones, which according to Military Africa numbers 233 aircraft.
Drone manufacturer Baykar: 1.75 billion euros in export revenue in 2024
Baykar generates around 90 per cent of its revenue abroad. The Turkish drone manufacturer has now delivered the Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci to 35 countries – including six NATO members.
Combat drone Bayraktar TB3 drops bombs for the first time: Baykar tests MAM-T
After take-off and landing on a short-runway aircraft carrier comes the next step: the Bayraktar TB3 combat drone has hit its target with a precision-guided MAM-T bomb. This marks the start of munitions integration testing.
Combat drone Bayraktar Kizilelma: Baykar reports another successful flight test
With a new afterburning engine, close to the speed of sound: the prototype of the Bayraktar Kizilelma combat drone has passed another flight test. It is to become Türkiye's first unmanned fighter jet – including on board the “TCG Anadolu”.
Bayraktar TB2 for Croatia: Baykar reports sale of six drones for 67 million euros
The contract was signed in Zagreb, but the exact timetable remains open: Croatia is receiving six Bayraktar TB2 including training. The Ministry of Defence has not said whether operations start at the end of 2025 or deliveries only begin in early 2026.
Bayraktar TB3 takes off from “TCG Anadolu”: Baykar reports take-off and landing on a short deck
46 minutes over the open sea, then a landing on the same short runway without landing aids: after the flight from the drone carrier “TCG Anadolu”, Baykar regards the Bayraktar TB3 as the world's first UCAV to achieve this on an aircraft carrier of this kind.
Akinci combat drone receives Aselsan's Tolun IIR glide bomb
The Bayraktar Akinci combat drone gains another Turkish precision weapon in Aselsan's Tolun IIR. In a test firing on 17 September it hit a target 20 kilometres away, while Baykar announced the more powerful Akinci C.
Bayraktar TB2 S5 retired: Türkiye bids farewell to first drone of its type after 10,000 flight hours
After 750 missions and 10,000 flight hours, the Turkish military has retired its first Bayraktar TB2. The aircraft with tail number S5 is not quite finished, however: manufacturer Baykar will keep using it for training and test flights.
Baykar hosts Saudi Arabia’s defence minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud
A tour of the Özdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center: during his visit to Türkiye, Khalid bin Salman Al Saud was briefed by Baykar on unmanned platforms and joint projects. The background is the 2023 Akinci export contract.
Combat drone Bayraktar TB3: Baykar reports successful tests and ramp take-off
Altitude above 11,000 metres, a successful ski-jump test in Keşan and trials on the “TCG Anadolu” soon to follow: Baykar's combat drone Bayraktar TB3 is moving closer to deployment on the Turkish aircraft carrier.
Drone carriers: Turkey and China are close to commissioning their first ships
Ankara is preparing the “TCG Anadolu” for a squadron of Bayraktar TB3s, while a suspected drone carrier lies in a Chinese shipyard. Plus a look back at pioneer Schiebel and the question of how vulnerable MALE drones are.