Air-to-Air Missiles for Bayraktar Drones to take on Kamikaze UAVs in Ukraine

The Bayraktar TB2 combat drones in service with Ukraine’s armed forces will be equipped with air-to-air missiles to defeat Russian Kamikaze UAVs.

"Soon our Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncıs will have air-to-air missiles; not only to engage drones but other enemy aircraft... we are conducting our tests," Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar was quoted as saying by German outlet Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) during SAHA Expo defense fair in Istanbul.

A contract was signed between Roketsan and drone-maker Baykar for the integration of the Sungur air defense missile to combat UAVs.

Murat Ikinci, Roketsan general manager said at the fair that Sungur is effective at shooting down moving targets such as helicopters and drones.

Integration of such missiles to Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı combat drones can lead to the creation of a low-cost air patrol concept in eliminating threats such as attack helicopters and enemy drones, including kamikaze drones, instead of using high-cost air-to-air missiles.

Russia has been using Iranian "Shahed-136" loitering munitions to destroy Ukrainian targets. The kamikazes are slow, noisy and deployed at low altitudes, making them "easy targets.”