Turkey’s Bayraktar TB3 UAV Completes Ski-Jump Test for TCG Anadolu Carrier

Turkey’s Baykar completes Bayraktar TB3 UAV's first ski-jump test, conducted under conditions akin to the TCG Anadolu carrier.

The Bayraktar TB3 has been undergoing rigorous testing by Baykar. Initially taking to the skies on October 27, 2023, the UAV has since been subjected to various assessments, culminating in the recent ski-jump test.

In today's trial at the Baykar Flight Training and Test Center in Keşan, Edirne, the Bayraktar TB3 executed its maiden ramp-assisted takeoff. The center's runway closely mimics the specifications of the TCG Anadolu, including a 12-degree ramp crucial for carrier-based operations. The aircraft completed takeoffs in all four attempts, signaling readiness for the next phase of testing before deployment on the carrier.

Prior to this, the Bayraktar TB3 underwent extensive testing, including performance evaluations at different altitudes and system identification tests at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ. Departing Çorlu on May 22, 2024, in formation with the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV, the TB3 headed to Keşan for further testing.

Since its first flight, the Bayraktar TB3 has logged flight hours totaling 395 hours and 43 minutes. Notable flights include a 32-hour endurance test covering a distance of 5700 kilometers on December 20, 2023, showcasing the UAV's capabilities.

Moreover, integration with the Aselsan-developed ASELFLIR-500 Electro-optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System has been completed, enhancing the UAV's reconnaissance capabilities.

With its foldable wings, the Bayraktar TB3 stands out as the first armed UAV worldwide capable of operating from short-runway vessels like the TCG Anadolu. There are plans to commence testing aboard the carrier within 2024, as revealed by Baykar Chairman and CTO Selçuk Bayraktar.