BIG threat for India as Turkey becomes drone superpower of the world, its control over global drone weapon market is now

Turkey is most popular combat drone, the Bayraktar TB2, has become a game-changer in modern warfare. The Ukrainian military has been using this killer drone effectively against Russian forces.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who secured his election victory with promises of advanced fighter jets, killer drones, warships, and tanks, has another reason to celebrate. Turkey now dominates 65% of the global drone market and controls 60% of the combat drone sector worldwide. The head of Turkey’s leading drone manufacturing company, Baykar, Selcuk Bayraktar, recently announced that Turkey has become the world’s largest producer of drones. Selcuk, who is also Erdogan’s son-in-law, is widely speculated to be a potential political successor to the Turkish leader.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who secured his election victory with promises of advanced fighter jets, killer drones, warships, and tanks, has another reason to celebrate. Turkey now dominates 65% of the global drone market and controls 60% of the combat drone sector worldwide. The head of Turkey’s leading drone manufacturing company, Baykar, Selcuk Bayraktar, recently announced that Turkey has become the world’s largest producer of drones. Selcuk, who is also Erdogan’s son-in-law, is widely speculated to be a potential political successor to the Turkish leader.

Turkish Drones: A trail of destruction from Armenia to Syria

Turkish drones have demonstrated their destructive capabilities in conflicts across Armenia, Ukraine, Africa, and most recently, Syria. This prowess has resulted in a surge of international orders for Turkish drones. Selçuk Bayraktar, who also serves as the Chief Technology Officer of Baykar, stated during an event in Istanbul that Baykar has been the world’s largest drone manufacturer for the past three years.

 

Baykar: The face of Turkey’s defense and aerospace industry

Baykar has emerged as the face of Turkey’s defense and aerospace sector. According to Selçuk, Baykar is now three times larger than its American competitors. The company is not only a leader in the Turkish defense industry but is also among the top exporters of drones globally.

Turkey’s dominance in the drone market, spearheaded by Baykar, highlights its growing influence in global defense technology, with its unmanned aerial systems playing a significant role in modern warfare.

Turkish Drones wreaks havoc globally

Turkey’s most popular combat drone, the Bayraktar TB2, has become a game-changer in modern warfare. The Ukrainian military has been using this killer drone effectively against Russian forces. Additionally, Azerbaijan deployed it successfully to defeat Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In North Africa, several countries engaged in civil wars have also made extensive use of this drone. According to Bayraktar, the TB2 drone is the world’s most exported combat drone. Turkey’s total defense exports stand at USD 5.5 billion, with one-third of that coming from Baykar, the drone manufacturer.

Global success of Baykar drones

In 2023, Baykar reported that 90% of its revenue came from foreign markets, with total exports reaching USD 1.8 billion. As of August this year, Baykar has signed agreements to supply Bayraktar TB2 drones to 34 countries. Furthermore, Turkey’s larger Akinci drone has been sold to 10 countries.

Baykar is also working on Turkey’s first unmanned fighter jet, Kizilelma, which completed its maiden flight in 2022. Mass production of Kizilelma has recently started, marking a new era in Turkey’s defense capabilities. Additionally, Baykar is developing drones for naval applications, capable of operating from aircraft carriers.

Baykar has now started producing the Bayraktar TB3, an upgraded version of the TB2, with enhanced capabilities and lethality. This killer drone is becoming a significant concern for India as three of its neighboring countries—Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives—have acquired these powerful drones.

A new challenge for India

The Bayraktar TB3 drones are equipped with advanced surveillance cameras and real-time video transmission capabilities, along with missiles capable of destroying high-value targets. Bangladesh is reportedly using these drones along the West Bengal and Meghalaya borders to monitor Indian territory during periods of heightened tension. Meanwhile, the Maldives is leveraging these drones to monitor maritime areas, keeping a close watch on India.

The increasing presence of Turkish drones in India’s neighborhood underscores the rising strategic challenge posed by Turkey’s rapidly expanding drone industry.

 

Turkey’s killer drones have left a trail of destruction from Armenia to Ukraine and Africa, and are increasingly becoming a strategic challenge for countries like India. Let’s delve into the details.