Turkey No Longer Wants Nor Needs US Drones

Turkey No Longer Wants Nor Needs US Drones

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Turkey has long been aspiring to create its own weapon systems instead of having to purchase them from other countries. Among the most striking examples of Turkey’s success in developing its own technologies is the Turkish-engineered tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Bayraktar, designed and developed by Baykar Makina. The firing capabilities of the Bayraktar were tested for the first time this past December.

The Turkish military is planning to deploy Bayraktar drones upon the completion of all required tests. Although the first test has been conducted without the warhead, a test last December saw the drone’s first armed flight. The Bayraktar TB2’s missile was able to hit a 2×2 target. According to Baykar Makina, the company collaborating on the manufacturing of the UAV, the weapon release was conducted from 16,000 ft, with the munition hitting a target 8 km away.

The country turning towards indigenous design manufacturing is in part a result of the US’ striction on the sale of some weapon systems to Turkey out of concern of their use against PKK terrorists in southeast Turkey and northern Iraq.

“I don’t mean to be sarcastic, but I would like to thank [the U.S. government] for the projects that were not approved because it forced us to develop our own systems,” defense Industry Undersecretary Ismail Demir was quoted as saying by Daily Sabah.

Turkey’s indigenous UAVs are now operational, constituting a firm base for a mostly indigneous industry for unmanned systems. Consequently, Turkey will no longer to purchase any US drones, Demir said and added that Turkey has been developing its own guided ammunitions and is developing more.

Blocking arm sales to Turkey would not set back Ankara from its national security goals, according to Demir, who cautioned the U.S. that the restriction would not be productive for long-term strategic relations between the two allies.