The Return of the "Nightmare": What is the Journey of the "Bayraktar TB2" that Sank a Russian Vessel?

SadaNews - The newspaper Le Parisien reported that the "Bayraktar TB2" drone - which was the star of the war at the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict before it disappeared - reappeared last Thursday to sink a Russian patrol boat in the Black Sea.

The French newspaper explained that this drone, which gradually disappeared from the front lines due to resource shortages on Kyiv's part, participated again on Thursday in a Ukrainian attack in the Black Sea, sinking a Russian patrol boat in the Kherson region, resulting in the deaths of all five crew members aboard.

The Ukrainian military intelligence published images of the attack indicating that it involved a "laser-targeted" strike from a precision and devastating missile, showcasing that the "Bayraktar TB2" was behind the successful operation.

A Former Star at a Low Cost

This drone is manufactured by the Turkish company Baykar and is designed as a medium-altitude, long-endurance tactical drone capable of conducting intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and armed strike missions, as stated by the report's editor, Victor Kozyin.

This giant drone had its moment of glory at the beginning of the conflict, with wings measuring 12 meters and weighing 650 kilograms, and many experts considered it a "nightmare" for the Russians, before it gradually disappeared from the front lines due to resource shortages.

Kyiv, which used it to strike large weapons convoys and armored vehicles, only had 20 of them, and their absence was seen as a problem because they are known for their "effectiveness" on the front lines. Defense and security advisor Sini Ozakarasahin stated that Bayraktar had "proven its worth in totally different environments, from Libya to Ukraine, as well as in Nagorno-Karabakh."

The "Bayraktar TB2" - which can stay airborne independently for over 20 hours - relies on a laser-guided missile system with high performance, using four "Roketsan MAM" smart munitions in its "devastating" strikes, as proudly stated by Ukrainian military intelligence.

This drone is equipped with Baykar's real-time image transmission system, but it has also gained fame for its excellent value compared to a price not exceeding 4.6 million euros, which is low for this type of technology, about 10% less than its American counterpart, the Reaper, which is currently under development to maintain its market position, according to the Turkish Baykar company.

Source: Le Parisien