Romania to acquire Turkish Bayraktar TB2 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles

Aviation Defense News April 2023
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According to a tweet published by Haluk Bayraktar on April 26, 2023, Romania has signed a contract to acquire Bayraktar TB2 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV).

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Romania to acquire Turkish Bayraktar Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles Bayraktar TB2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. (Picture source: Haluk Bayraktar)

The TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is operated remotely by a ground control station with a crew of three. It has a length of 6.5 meters (21 feet 4 inches), a wingspan of 12 meters (39 feet 4 inches), and a maximum take-off mass of 700 kg (1,540 lbs).

With a payload capacity of 150 kg (331 lbs), this UAV is powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912-iS internal combustion engine and uses a 2-bladed variable-pitch propeller. Its fuel capacity is 300 liters (79 US gallons), and it runs on gasoline.

In terms of performance, the TB2 can reach a maximum speed of 120 knots (222 km/h) and cruise at 70 knots (130 km/h). It has an impressive range of up to 4,000 km (2,160 nautical miles) and a communication range of less than 300 km (186 miles) due to line-of-sight propagation.

The UAV's service ceiling is 25,000 feet (7,620 meters), and it can operate at an altitude of 18,000 feet (5,486 meters) with an endurance of 27 hours.

The TB2 is equipped with various armaments, such as the Smart Micro Munition (MAM-L) and MAM-C high explosive variant. Its four hardpoints can carry combinations of MAM-C and MAM-L laser-guided smart bombs, L-UMTAS (Long Range Anti-tank Missile System), Roketsan Cirit (70 mm Missile System), TUBITAK-SAGE BOZOK Laser Guided Rockets, TUBITAK-SAGE TOGAN quad rack of GPS/INS guided 81 mm mortars, and a proposed Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System – 70mm laser-guided rocket.

For avionics, the TB2 features interchangeable EO/IR/LD imaging and targeting sensor systems or Multi Mode AESA Radar, with options such as the Aselsan CATS EO/IR/LD imaging and targeting sensor, Hensoldt ARGOS-II HDT, and Wescam MX-15D EO/IR/LD imaging and targeting sensor. The UAV also includes a Garmin GNC 255A navigation/communication transceiver for added functionality.