Turkish defense company builds drone factory in Ukraine
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The chief executive of Turkish defense company Baykar told Reuters that the company has initiated the construction of a factory in Ukraine for the production of either the TB2 or TB3 drone models.
Haluk Bayraktar, CEO of Baykar, said on the sidelines of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, “Our factory is being built… we need about 12 months to finish construction and then we will move on to internal machinery, equipment, and organizational structure.”
According to think tank SIPRI, Baykar has reported that it has secured export agreements for its TB2 drone with 30 nations, including Ukraine, Ethiopia, Libya, and Azerbaijan, since 2018.
Turkish-made Bayraktar drones became globally known after the Ukrainian military used them to deter Russian forces.
Bayraktar pointed out that the factory will produce around 120 units every year, adding it was still unclear whether production would focus on the TB2 or TB3 drone model.
Bayraktar also said they would start production in Saudi Arabia in the next two years. This came in following an agreement in July, 2023, to sell Bayraktar Akinci, another kind of drone, to Saudi Arabia.