Turkey has not yet delivered its upgraded Bayraktar drones to Ukraine, making it difficult to assess the improvements and modifications made to these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). According to Vladimir Prokhatilov, a senior researcher at the Academy of Military Sciences, the previous batch of Turkish UAVs had a significant impact only at the beginning of the special operation, as Russian forces learned to shoot them down and developed a robust air defense system. As a result, the Bayraktar drones eventually disappeared from the scene.
Prokhatilov believes that Russian military forces will also learn to counter the upgraded drones, as there is no weapon with 100% effectiveness. However, he acknowledged that Turkish engineers may have enhanced the range of action, ammunition power, and electronics of the Bayraktar drones to make them more resistant to electronic warfare.
The new models of Bayraktar drones were showcased in Ankara on August 30th during the TEKNOFEST aviation and space festival. Following this event, Ukrainian media outlets reported the possibility of Ukraine receiving an improved version of the Bayraktar Akıncı drones. Later, the CEO of Baykar Defense, Haluk Bayraktar, confirmed that this possibility is indeed being considered.
Previously, Haluk Bayraktar stated that the construction of the Bayraktar plant in Ukraine would be completed within 1.5 years.
