Ukraine's Bayraktar TB2 drones: Transitioning from strike to spy

Ukrainian military personnel recently gave an extensive interview discussing the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones. These drones, which significantly impacted the Russian forces in the early stages of the war, have gradually disappeared from front-line reports. However, this does not mean they have ceased to be used. So, what's the current situation?

The Bayraktar TB2 is classified as a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle. Each drone of this type measures approximately 6.4 metres in length and has a wingspan of 11.9 metres. It can ascend to an altitude of up to 7,924 metres and reach speeds of 200 km/h, carrying up to 150 kilograms of payload. This payload can include an observation module with a thermal imaging camera or an AESA radar, or weaponry mounted on four pylons designed for this purpose.

The Bayraktar TB2 can perform reconnaissance or strike missions depending on the equipment selected. This was clearly demonstrated during the war in Ukraine. Initially, the Turkish drones attacked Russian forces and inflicted significant losses.

However, over time, the situation changed, partly due to the significantly improved air defences deployed by the invaders. As Ukrainian soldiers emphasize, the Bayraktar TB2s remain very useful and necessary equipment, currently serving to conduct reconnaissance and direct artillery fire.

The fact that Ukraine still actively uses drones produced in Turkey is confirmed by, among others, the head of Ukrainian intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov. As he points out, Ukraine achieved "extraordinary results" thanks to Bayraktar TB2 drones, especially at the beginning of the war. Currently, they are used, among other places, over the Black Sea. Ukrainians value them for their effectiveness and reliability.

The armament used in these Turkish drones primarily consists of laser-guided MAM-L and MAM-C bombs. MAM-L bombs weigh about 22 kilograms and provide a range of up to 14.5 kilometres. There are three warhead options: fragmentation, cumulative, or thermobaric. MAM-C bombs weigh just under 7 kilograms and have a range of about 8 kilometres. They are suitable for destroying, for example, lightly armoured vehicles.