Turkish Naval Drone Completes Ski-Jump Test
A Turkish drone specifically designed for aircraft carrier operations has successfully completed its first ski-jump test. This milestone demonstrates technical progress in autonomous flight control for naval integration, reinforcing Turkey's position in advanced defense and dual-use AI technology.
- The drone is the Bayraktar TB3, a naval variant of the well-known TB2, developed by the private Turkish defense company Baykar. It is specifically designed with folding wings for operations on naval vessels with short runways, like amphibious assault ships. - This test was conducted on a land-based ramp with a 12-degree slope, built to replicate the deck of Turkey's flagship, the TCG Anadolu. The drone successfully completed four take-offs during this phase, a critical step before actual ship-based trials are set to begin. - The TCG Anadolu was originally planned to carry F-35B fighter jets before Turkey was removed from the program; this led to a strategic pivot to convert the ship into the world's first dedicated drone carrier. The vessel can reportedly operate up to 10 TB3 drones simultaneously and has a hangar capacity for 30-50 drones in total. - The TB3 is powered by a 172-horsepower PD170 turbodiesel engine developed by the Turkish firm Tusaş Engine Industries (TEI), a significant upgrade from the engine used in the TB2. This domestic engine development is a key part of Turkey's goal of technological self-sufficiency in the defense sector. - With a maximum takeoff weight of 1,450 kg and a payload capacity of 280 kg, the TB3 can stay airborne for over 24 hours. One endurance test flight lasted 32 hours and covered 5,700 kilometers. - Baykar, led by CTO Selçuk Bayraktar, is developing the TB3 to operate in tandem with a jet-powered unmanned fighter, the Kızılelma, which is also planned for deployment on the TCG Anadolu. This creates a tiered, multi-domain unmanned naval aviation capability. - The company's ambitions extend beyond defense, as Baykar is also reportedly working on developing small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology, signaling a diversification into the energy sector to support Turkey's goal of energy independence. - The TB3's development is part of a broader "hyper-warfare" concept that integrates AI-supported munitions and networked unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) to create a multi-domain, synchronized attack capability.
