The unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) Bayraktar TB2 (Tactical Block 2), used successfully in combat already in various scenarios, attracted the interest of Albania, which plans to acquire an undetermined number of units.
According to the Daily Sabah site, Albania’s interest in the Bayraktar TB2 became official after the country’s parliament allocated an additional budget of more than $ 9 million for the acquisition.
The approval came after Albanian Interior Minister Bledar Çuçi and military officials traveled to Turkey.
After visiting Bayraktar’s production facility in Istanbul, Çuçi noted that his country would likely buy the drone. «We are evaluating the possibility of using Turkish UCAVs for civil and military purposes in Albania,» he said.
The Turks say that the country has become the fourth largest drone producer in the world since the Government promoted its policy of nationalizing the productive apparatus for Defense.
The Bayraktar, with its electronic systems, software, aerodynamic design, and secondary systems completely designed and developed by Turkey, stands out among the world’s most advanced UAV systems in its class for its automation and flight performance.
It has a record altitude of 8,200 meters, with a range of more than 24 hours in the air and can carry 150 kilograms of payload, being capable of operating day and night.
Proven in combat, and becoming an export success
The Bayraktar TB2 was operated by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in Syria and Libya in various functions, from neutralizing enemy air defense systems and attacks on all types of ground targets, as well as for security functions around airports.
Successfully operated by Azerbaijan against Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, it once again demonstrated its lethality against anti-aircraft systems, artillery, armored units, field command posts or troop concentrations.
Its successful use on these battlefields served to pave the way for the export of Turkish drones abroad.
Albania is the last interested in reaching an agreement to acquire this particular combat drone, which is already operating in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, Qatar, Ukraine and will be delivered to Poland under a recently signed agreement.
