Türkiye's defense industry is experiencing a turning point. Bayraktar TB3, the first Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SIHA) in world aviation history that can take off and land from a short-runway ship, is successfully continuing its tests on the ship. As in its previous tests, the national SIHA has successfully completed the "Fully Autonomous Takeoff and Landing Tests from a Short-Runway Ship" on April 22, 2025, once again making its name in history.
Successful Sorties in TCG ANADOLU
During the test flight, Bayraktar TB3 SİHA performed four sorties to TCG ANADOLU, Türkiye’s first amphibious assault ship, sailing in the Gulf of Saros. With these successful tests, the national SİHA, which performed four flawless takeoffs and landings to TCG ANADOLU, completed its last sortie at sunset. As in previous tests, it was noteworthy that no landing support equipment was used in these critical landings. The successful operation of the artificial intelligence algorithms developed by Baykar engineers during the tests showed that fully autonomous takeoffs and landings are possible thanks to this advanced technology.
Flight Duration and Range Record of Over a Thousand Hours
Bayraktar TB3 SİHA has accumulated significant experience by staying in the air for a total of 1.016 hours and 42 minutes in various test flights carried out to date. The endurance and range of the national SİHA were also proven in the long flight test carried out on December 20, 2023. Bayraktar TB32, which stayed in the air for a full 3 hours without landing in this test, covered an impressive distance of 5.700 kilometers in the sky.
The First Flight That Made History and Subsequent Successes
Bayraktar TB3 successfully completed its first flight test, which was a first in world aviation history, on the TCG ANADOLU ship sailing off the coast of Muğla Aksaz on November 19, 2024. Following this historic flight, other flight tests were successfully completed on November 26, 2024, and the national SİHA's ability to operate from short-runway ships was certified.
Supersonic Missile Hits Sea Target
Bayraktar TB3 SİHA’s not only take-off and landing capabilities but also its armed mission capabilities were successfully tested. In the firing tests conducted on March 25 and March 27, 2025, the national SİHA managed to hit targets on the sea with a direct hit with the İHA-122 supersonic missile developed by ROKETSAN. In particular, in the test conducted on March 27, the 6x6 meter curtained target was successfully destroyed with the shot performed below the line of sight altitude, while another of our national prides in the air, Bayraktar TB2, marked the target with a laser. These tests also successfully demonstrated the coordinated mission execution capability of two different SİHA platforms.
High Altitude Performance with National Engine and National Camera
In the development of Bayraktar TB3 SİHA, great importance is given to local and national technologies. The national SİHA successfully completed the High Altitude System Performance Test by reaching an altitude of 25 feet in the flight carried out at the Baykar Flight Training and Test Center in the Keşan district of Edirne on June 2024, 36.310. This important test was carried out with the PD-170 engine developed domestically by TEI, which symbolizes Türkiye's success in the engine industry. The altitude record of our national aviation history belongs to Bayraktar AKINCI TİHA, which was also developed nationally and originally by Baykar, with 45 feet.
In addition, Bayraktar TB3 SİHA flew with the high-performance ASELFLIR-26 Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Targeting System, developed nationally by ASELSAN, for the first time on March 2024, 500. This integration test was also successfully completed, and the reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting capabilities of the national SİHA were significantly increased.
Deterrent Power in Overseas Operations
Bayraktar TB3 SİHA, which can be easily deployed on ships thanks to its foldable wing structure, will be the leading unmanned aerial vehicle in its class when it enters the inventory with its superior capabilities. The national SİHA, which can be controlled from very long distances thanks to its beyond-line-of-sight communication capability, will make a significant contribution to Türkiye's deterrent power by successfully performing reconnaissance-surveillance, intelligence and attack missions against overseas targets with the smart munitions it carries. These historical achievements of Bayraktar TB3 reveal the point that the Turkish defense industry has reached and herald the beginning of a new era for future naval operations.
