Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian media: Three Palestinians were killed after being targeted by Israeli drone fire in the al-Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City
Nicolas Maduro: The Palestinian cause is the most sacred cause for humanity, and we propose sending teams of builders, farmers, and doctors to Gaza to help the people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: IOF infiltrate Khallet Wardeh towards the municipality in the town of Aita al-Shaab, south of Lebanon.
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh
Israeli PM's office: PM informed Trump he would not attend Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on account of Jewish holidays.
Israeli media: Netanyahu makes last-minute decision to cancel trip to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Large crowds gather in Khan Younis to welcome the liberated Palestinian detainees, waving flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in celebration
Buses of released prisoners arrive in Ramallah
Israeli media: Netanyahu gifts Trump a "Golden Dove".

Why are Turkey’s Baykar drones so popular?

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al-Monitor
  • 24 Jul 2023 14:26
4 Min Read

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and KSA engage in the latter's largest defense deal.

  • x
  • A Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat drone is on view during a presentation at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Siauliai, Lithuania, July 6, 2022. (AFP)
    A Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat drone is on view during a presentation at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Siauliai, Lithuania, on July 6, 2022. (AFP)

Upon Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Istanbul-based defense firm, Baykar, announced that it would sell a number of Bayraktar Akinci high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) drones to the kingdom.

Erdogan landed what was described as the country's largest defense deal.

Baykar drones have been supposedly used in conflict zones all over the world, since Turkey started selling them in 2019, including Ukraine, Nagorno-Karabakh, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Ethiopia, and Somalia. 

Read next: Turkey, UAE sign $50.7 billion worth of cooperation agreements

Al-Monitor explained in a report that the Turkish-made drones have so far been sold to 29 countries, while four are in negotiations and seven others have publicly expressed interest in acquiring them, according to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. On that note, the country has explored unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) agreements with several countries including Saudi, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. 

Among the countries in the Middle East that purchased the Bayraktar TB2 drones are Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco, and Iraq.

What is the Saudis' Akinci agreement?

A nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council in Turkey, Rich Outzen said that the Saudi deal is “extremely significant,” as Turkey's new Akinci drone "was fielded to Turkish forces just last year, and Saudi Arabia will be just the third country besides Turkey to receive them. The Akinci can strike distant targets with precision munitions, including targets designated by other, smaller drones. For potential naval or littoral warfare in the Gulf, this is an important capability."

Kirsten Fontenrose, president of Red-Six International, a global UAV pilot services provider, said that the Akinci is nearly twice as large as the TB2. She explained that the Akinci is more equivalent to a Predator and it will be useful as a surveillance platform, but suggests it could be vulnerable to surface-to-air missiles, which she says the Yemeni Armed Forces have. 

Read next: KSA buys Turkish drones during Erdogan's visit

Fontenrose adds that if the Akincis are for surveillance, "they can fly beyond the range of Houthi [Ansar Allah] SAMs (surface-to-area missiles). If their intent is to eventually arm them with ATGMs (anti-tank guided missiles) on wing hardpoints, it will depend on the range of the ATGM." She believes it would be a suitable aircraft for internal security since the Saudi air force can fly over the desert for extended periods of time and patrol the Red Sea.

Moreover, Outzen said that TB2 has been used by dozens of countries, including to great effect in the early days of the NATO-orchestrated war in Ukraine.

“The number of countries who need the Akincis may be somewhat lower," he said, "but should still number in the dozens within a year or two. Pakistan and Libya already have them. The Emirates and Qatar may be candidates, but Azerbaijan already is. Indonesia and Bangladesh reportedly are interested as well.”

Why are the Bayraktar drones so popular? 

A nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council in Turkey, Rich Outzen, said that there are several reasons for the success and popularity of Bayraktar drones.

The Turks "don't just deliver the aircraft with a quick users' course,” Outzen told Al-Monitor, adding that “They provide long-term training teams, maintenance and supply support, and operational integration with other systems — command and control, other sensors, manned and unmanned ground and air forces."

Turkish forces have recent combat experience with drones, "so their concepts and integrating approach have recency (and brand recognition).” Additionally, Turkish drones are considered cheaper than both US and other Western-made drones, and superior to other non-Western systems, such as UAVs made in China or in Iran.

  • Bayraktar TB2 drones
  • Turkey
  • Baykar
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • Saudi Arabia

Most Read

Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • Today
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
US media rejects Pentagon rules limiting access to official info
Politics

US media reject Pentagon rules limiting access to official info

Australia open to sending troops to Middle East post-ceasefire
Politics

Australia open to sending troops to Middle East post-ceasefire

Arab journalists in US say they're being silenced after Gaza coverage
Politics

MENA journalists in US report heightened scrutiny since Gaza war began

Maduro offers Gaza aid and calls for real justice after Sharm El-Sheik.
Latin America

Maduro offers Gaza aid, calls for real justice after Sharm El-Sheikh

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS