Poland has completed a significant military upgrade, cementing its position as a formidable drone powerhouse within NATO, with the final delivery of the Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Turkey.
The delivery, which marks a substantial move away from its Soviet-era equipment, includes the sophisticated Bayraktar TB2 drones renowned for their performance in Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion.
The Bayraktar TB2, a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone, comes equipped with cutting-edge avionics capable of autonomous operations, including taxiing, takeoff, landing, and cruising without reliance on GPS.
It is also able to carry precision-guided munitions, proving its worth as a tactical asset capable of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and striking high-value targets with laser-guided bombs or rockets.
With an operational range of up to 185 miles and an impressive endurance of 27 hours, the TB2 does.
However, present vulnerabilities to advanced air defense systems.
Poland’s strategic enhancement of its military assets also includes the acquisition of M1 Abrams and K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, as well as an interest in the F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighter and the Boeing-made F-15EX Eagle II.
The completion of the TB2 delivery was announced by Turkey-based Baykar, with a $270 million contract.
The contract that covered four systems each encompassing six UAVs and three ground control stations.
The Polish Armed Forces received the initial batch of drones in October 2022, and the final set was handed over on May 16, 2024, during a ceremony attended by the State Secretary in the Ministry of National Defense, Paweł Bejda.
“The Secretary of State in the Ministry of National Defense, Pawe Bejda, together with representatives of the Polish Armed Forces, took part in the ceremony of completing the delivery of the last, fourth set of the Bayraktar TB2 unmanned reconnaissance and strike system,” the Polish Armaments Agency stated.
Baykar’s leader, Haluk Bayraktar, took to social media, heralding the milestone as “the first time in Turkey’s history, we have successfully completed the export of high-tech UCAVs to both a NATO and EU member country.”
As part of the sale to Warsaw, Ankara will also transfer depot-level maintenance capabilities for the Bayraktar TB2 to the Polish military, The Aviationist reported. These include maintenance and repair tools for the engines, ground control stations, and EO/IR sensors.
Discussions within the Polish Ministry of National Defense even suggest the potential establishment of a new branch of the Armed Forces dedicated to unmanned systems, aptly named “Unmanned Forces.”
In early 2022, the Ukrainian military attracted widespread media attention when it used the Bayraktar TB2 against invading Russian forces.
Relevant articles:
– Bayraktar TB2 UAVs Have Turned Poland Into a Drone Powerhouse, The National Interest
– Poland receives final TB2 drone delivery from Turkey’s Baykar, Defense News
– Final Delivery of Polish Bayraktar TB2 Drones Completed, The Aviationist
– Turkish Drones for Poland, kuryerpolski.us