Ukrainian Navy to receive Bayraktar TB2 UCAS
The Ukrinform National News Agency reported that the Ukraine Marine Aviation Brigade (Ukrainian Navy) will receive the first batch of Bayraktar TB2 Unmanned Combat Aerial Systems (UCASs) in 2021. This Turkish-made UCAS will be used for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions and armed attack missions over the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine acquired twelve Bayraktar TB2s in 2019, as a part of its military modernisation programme. Upon successful integration of the TB2s, additional five units were ordered for the Ukrainian Navy. In the meantime, Turkish and Ukrainian officials are negotiating the establishment of a joint venture to produce 48 additional Bayraktar TB2s in Ukraine.
The Bayraktar Taktik İHA is a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial system developed, designed and manufactured by the Turkish Company Baykar. The system consists of the Bayraktar TB2, Ground Control Station, Ground Data Terminal, Remote Display Terminal and Advanced Base with Generator and Trailer modules. The early batches of the TB2 relied on imported components and technologies: MX-15D EO/IR/LD imaging and targeting sensor unit made by Canadian L3Harris Wescam or engines made by Austrian BRP-Rotax, a daughter company of Bombardier Recreational Products. After the Canadian Foreign Ministry restricted exports to Turkey, following operational use of Bayraktars in the Nagorno Kharabakh conflict, the Turks were forced to replace the imported components by indigenous units - CATS FLIR system made by ASELSAN and domestic engines developed by the TAI subsidiary, TUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI).
The Bayraktar TB2 has a maximum take-off weight of 650 kg with a maximum payload capacity of 150 kg. It can fly at a maximum speed of 120 kts at a maximum altitude of 27,000 ft and has a flight endurance of up to 27 hours. In its ISR role the TB2 relies on its on-board avionics suite with a triple redundant avionics system for fully autonomous taxiing, take-off, cruise and landing. Baykar’s own developed BGAM system provides real-time image transmission and processing enabling high-res live broadcasts transferred to multiple users simultaneously which can be monitored via a secure cloud-based network application. At the same time, all transmitted imagery is being automatically stored and archived in 30-min files which then can be filtered and processed according to date and metadata.
In its combat role it can perform surgical-precision strikes by using the onboard laser designator for Target Acquisition. The UCAS can be armed with various smart weapons carried on four underwing hardpoints. Among these are MAM-C and MAM-L GPS/INS and laser-guided smart munitions and L-UMTAS long range anti-tank missiles with IR or laser guidance produced by Turkish armor and missile manufacturer ROKETSAN or BOZOK laser-guided miniature munition developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey).
Photo via Daily Sabah