The Bayraktar TB2 made its first flight in August 2014 and has been actively used in combat operations since mid-2018. Initially deployed in Turkish operations against Kurdish fighters and rebels along the Turkish-Syrian border, their involvement gradually expanded. In 2019, Bayraktars were deployed to Libya in support of the internationally recognized government, and in 2020, they played a crucial role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on behalf of Azerbaijan. Currently, attention is focused on Ukraine, where Bayraktars are being utilized by the Ukrainian armed forces.
Manufactured by Baykar TB2, these unmanned aerial vehicles have become a sought-after export product in the Turkish defence sector. They have been procured by countries such as Azerbaijan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Niger, Pakistan, Qatar, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine. Recently, a contract worth USD 367 million was signed with Kuwait, and NATO countries like Poland and Romania have also acquired them. Additionally, other NATO members, including Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, and Slovakia, have shown interest in the Turkish system.
