Bayraktar Tactical UAS

The Bayraktar Tactical UAS or Bayraktar TB1[1] is a surveillance and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) initially developed for the Turkish Armed Forces. It is developed by the Kale-Baykar, a joint venture between the Kale Group and Baykar Technologies.

Not to be confused with Bayraktar TB2.
Bayraktar
A Bayraktar Tactical UAS seen through his tail camera at 18,000 feet over the Gulf of Saros in Turkey.
Role Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle
National origin Turkey
Manufacturer Kale-Baykar
Designer Baykar
First flight 2009
Introduction 2014
Status In service
Primary user Turkish Armed Forces
Developed from Bayraktar Mini UAV
Developed into Bayraktar TB2

In 2014, Bayraktar held the national endurance and altitude record for Turkey's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).[2][3] It set a record for autonomous flight endurance when it flew 24 hours and 34 minutes at 18,000 feet on 5 August 2014. It furthermore recorded highest altitude of 27,030 feet on its flight on 14 June 2014 with full payload.[4]

While the Turkish Armed Forces describes Bayraktar as "Tactical UAV Class" to prevent it from being a competitor to the TAI Anka UAV, international standards would classify it as a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV.[5][6] With its 650 kg MTOW and 12 meters wingspan platform powered by an internal combustion engine, Bayraktar is capable of flying at 22,500 feet and loitering for more than 24 hours.

Characteristics

Design
Bayraktar GCS cutaway.
Bayraktar Ground Control Station.

Bayraktar Block B Platform has a blended wing body design with its inverse V-Tail structure. Blended wing body design supports the lifting performance of the overall platform. Thrust is generated through the internal combustion engine placed between the tail booms. Monocoque platform is modular with detachable main items such as wing, tail boom, and V-Tails. All of the fuselage items are mostly made of carbon fiber composite parts whereas precision CNC machined aluminum parts are used at the junction sections of the platform. Fuel is stored within bladder tanks and fuel consumption is automatically balanced with solenoid valves. Variable pitch two blade propeller allows for medium altitude efficient flying.

Ground Control Station is based on a NATO spec shelter unit which is equipped with cross redundant command and control systems. The mobile unit supports for three personnel pilot, payload operator and mission commander. GCS is equipped with redundant Air Conditioners and NBC filtering unit. All hardware inside the shelter is placed inside racked cabinets. Each operator has dual screens in front along with the Operator Interface Software used for real-time command, control and monitoring.[7]

Configuration
Baykar UAV Team

Each Tactical UAS is configured with six aerial vehicle platforms, two Ground Control Stations (GCS), three Ground Data Terminals (GDT), two Remote Video Terminals (RVT) and Ground Support Equipment. Each Aerial Platform is equipped with a triply redundant avionics system. Its ground control system's cross redundant architecture allows for pilot, payload operator and mission commander to command, control and monitor the platform.[6]

Digital Flight Control System

Bayraktar has a triple-redundant flight control system with autonomous taxi, takeoff, cruise, landing and parking capability without any external sensor aid. The flight control system is the central main component which conducts sensor fusion algorithms running with the real-time sensor data. Mission specific controls such are handled through the mission control computer system. Aerial platform is guided through various redundant rotary and linear type servo actuators which are designed according to the dynamics of the aerial platform. All of the main airborne avionics equipment software and hardware are developed under the running program so as to achieve utmost performance. Electronic power unit powers the onboard systems supported with triple alternators and smartly balanced lithium ion battery units. A ruggedized heated type camera unit is placed at the tail section of the platform to monitor flight and all payload and telemetry data are recorded to the airborne data recorder. Redundancy architecture of the avionics support for autonomous emergency landings on different airfields if necessary. Sensor fusion algorithms allow for navigation and auto landing even in loss global positioning signals.[8]

Development

In 2007, the Turkish Defense Undersecretariat (SSM) initiated a development program[9] and invited two companies to compete for a prototype demonstration phase of Tactical UAS Program. Bayraktar demonstrated Block A,[10] with its dual redundant avionics system in 2009 with a fully autonomous takeoff and landing capability and was selected as the winner of the program.[11][12] Bayraktar Block B design commenced in early 2012 with the second phase of the program, which covers development and serial production.

Milestones
  • Prototype development Phase 1 started in 2007.[13]
  • Bayraktar Block A with its 450 kg MTOW and 9 meter wing span made its maiden autonomous flight on 8 June 2009 at Kesan Airport, Turkey.[14]
  • Bayraktar Block A completed Phase 1 with day and night flight demonstrations successfully at Sinop Airport, Turkey in October 2009.[15][16]
  • Bayraktar Block A was chosen and officially declared as the winner of the competition against Vestel for the ongoing Tactical UAS Program by Defense Executive Committee of Turkey. Meeting was held on 6 January 2010.[17][18][19]
  • Phase 2 Development and Serial Production contract signed between SSM and Kale-Baykar Joint Venture in December 2011.
  • Phase 2 Development and Serial Production of Bayraktar Block B Program began in January 2012.
  • Bayraktar Block B made its first maiden flight at Kesan Airport, Turkey on 29 April 2014.[20]
  • Bayraktar Block B achieved national altitude record of 27,030 feet on 14 June 2014 on its test flight.[21][22]
  • Bayraktar Block B autonomously took off on 5 August 2014 15:36 and landed on 6 August 2014 16:10 with a total flight of 24 hours 34 minutes and achieved endurance record in Turkish Aviation on its test flight.[23][24][25]
  • Bayraktar Block B successfully completed first acceptance tests held on 17–22 November 2014.[26][27][28]
  • Bayraktar Block B accomplished its first flight with ADS-B System integrated on board.[29]
  • Bayraktar Block B was on live NTV TV Channel[30]
  • Bayraktar Block B 2nd system acceptance tests successfully completed on June 18, 2015 .[31][32][33]
  • Turkish Police orders 11 Bayraktar Block B platforms.[34]
  • Turkish drone ‘Bayraktar’ guides Turkish security forces to kill six PKK members[35]
  • Turkish drone 'Bayraktar' guides warplanes to destroy Daesh terrorist targets in north Syria operation[36]
  • Turkey's domestically-made armed drone starts patrolling the skies[37][38]
  • The 'Bayraktar TB2' completed 60,000 flight hours in September 2018, reaching the average monthly usage rate of 4,500 hours.[39]

Operational history

Syria
See also: Syrian Civil War and Turkish military intervention in Afrin

On February 12, 2018 The Syrian Democratic Forces said they shot down a Turkish Bayraktar Tactical UAS that was found crashed near Quda, a small town in the Rajo district of Afrin near the Syria-Turkey border.[40]

Specifications

General characteristics
  • Length: 6.5 m (21 ft)
  • Wing Span: 12 m (39 ft)
  • Max Take Off Weight: 650 kg (1,430 lb)
  • Power: Rotax 912ULS 100 hp (75 kW)

Performance
  • Maximum Speed: 120 knots (220 km/h)
  • Cruise Speed: 70 knots (130 km/h)
  • Communication Range: 150 km
  • Service Ceiling: 22,500 feet (6,900 m)
  • Endurance: 24 hours
  • Payload: 50 kg

Operators

 Turkey

See also

References
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