The Number of Armed Drones Operated by Turkish Armed Forces Increases

The number of armed drones operated by the Turkish Armed Forces has increased, reaching 140, as reported by Ahval, noting that this is equivalent to half of the F-16 fighter fleet.

In addition, the Turkish Armed Forces possess 1500 unarmed drones, 200 'mini drones,' and 500 KARGU-2 'kamikaze' drones. The latest model of drone expected to bolster Turkey’s arsenal in the coming years is known as the Akicic drone, which completed testing this year.

In recent years, Turkey's armed drones have become synonymous with its military interventions in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

It is known that 160 Turkish armed drones are operated by the Armed Forces of Turkey, the National Intelligence Organization, and other security forces in Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Qatar. Other countries, including Pakistan and Kazakhstan, have also expressed interest in acquiring Turkish drones.

The most famous TB-2 Bayraktar drone is a mainstay of Turkey's aerial fleet. It is produced by a company owned by Haluk Bayraktar, whose brother-in-law is Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.