Baykar is continuing its development efforts on the Bayraktar TB3 drone, which can take off and land on ships with short runways. In this context, the company successfully completed the first roll test of the Bayraktar TB3, that features a foldable wing structure.
Baykar included footage from the first roll test of the Bayraktar TB3 at the flight training and test center in Çorlu in a post on social media. The Bayraktar TB3, which had been prepared by Baykar engineers before ground tests, was seen successfully starting its engine and leaving the hangar in the brief video.
Bayraktar TB3, which has officially begun ground tests with engine start-up and ground driving tests, is planned to complete taxiing, first flight, and STOBAR type landing and take-off tests by the end of 2023. Bayraktar TB3 is expected to enter mass production in 2024, following the end of the testing phase, with KIZILELMA, another combat drone of the company.
On October 29, 2020, Baykar announced to the public that they were working on developing an unmanned aerial vehicle with folding wings and short-range take-off and landing capabilities. Approximately one year later, during TEKNOFEST 2021, Baykar’s chairman of the board of directors, Selçuk Bayraktar, disclosed the technical specs of the Bayraktar TB3.
Selçuk Bayraktar provided the press with images of the first prototype of the Bayraktar TB3 unmanned aerial vehicle on the assembly line about 6 months ago. The Turkish Navy’s largest ship, TCG Anadolu, was put into service in the same month, and prototypes of the Bayraktar TB3 and Kızılelma were also on the ship’s flight deck.
During the commissioning ceremony of the TCG Anadolu, a multi-purpose amphibious assault ship, Selçuk Bayraktar stated that Bayraktar TB3 will be ready to serve on the ship in 2024 and Kızılelma will be fully ready to serve on the ship in 2025.
Bayraktar further revealed that the TB3 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle may take off and land from TCG Anadolu without the use of the catapult system, and that the arresting equipment for KIZILELMA MIUS will be fitted on the ship in the future.
Sources: X; Overt Defense