The Power Within: The Kyiv Independent’s first-ever magazine. Be among the first to get it.

pre-order now
Skip to content
Edit post

Turkish drone company Baykar to develop air-to-air missiles to counter kamikaze drone attacks in Ukraine

by The Kyiv Independent news desk October 30, 2022 4:43 PM 1 min read
This audio is created with AI assistance

The new munitions, based on the existing Sungur air defense missiles, will be deployed on Bayraktar combat drones, including the TB2, which is currently serving in Ukraine.

The development of the anti-air capabilities of Bayraktar drones is being fast-tracked specifically in response to the widespread use of slow, cheap Iranian "kamikaze" drones like the Shahed-136, of which Russia has used hundreds to target civilian buildings and critical infrastructure in Ukraine, said Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar at an arms fair in Istanbul.

Although the Shahed-136 is an "easy target" in principle, "you need to be ready with your countermeasures," Bayraktar said. "We fully support Ukraine to defend their sovereignty."

Ukraine is currently using a multitude of surface-to-air systems to defend against the Iranian drones, as well as occasionally resorting to sending precious fighter jets to shoot them down. Assigned to a patrol flight pattern and ready to intercept any incoming drones or enemy aircraft, TB2s could play a valuable new role in Ukraine's air defense infrastructure.

What’s behind Russia’s unusually big missile attack on Ukraine?

News Feed

8:10 PM

Ukraine receives 5,000 more Starlink terminals from Poland, minister says.

"Starlinks will help residents of the front-line territories to stay in touch: call relatives, call emergency services, read the news. Due to attacks and destruction of base stations in the de-occupied territories, regular communication is unavailable," Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
1:54 PM

US committed to NATO membership, Rubio says.

"As we speak right now, the United States is as active in NATO as it has ever been," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a press briefing alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.