One of the world’s most renowned unmanned aerial vehicles, the Bayraktar TB2, has now been equipped with the fully domestically developed TM-100 engine. Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar expressed pride in the achievement, stating: “We believed, we worked together, and we succeeded.”
TM-100 Engine Lifts Off with Bayraktar TB2 in the Skies of Trakya
Proving itself on the battlefield, the Bayraktar TB2 UAV recently soared powered by the TM-100 engine developed by Turkish engineers. Baykar successfully completed flight tests of the TB2 with the TM-100 engine in the skies over Trakya without any issues.
Addressing Past Criticism and Strategic Focus
In the past, critics targeted the TB2 for not having a domestic engine, leading to perception-based campaigns and even satire. However, for this class of UAV, the engine was not considered the most critical component for mission success. As a result, Baykar initially prioritized more strategic technologies. At the time, the production scale did not justify the economic feasibility of developing a domestic engine, so it was not a top priority.
A Growing Need for Domestic Engine Capabilities
As Baykar’s operations evolved, the need for a high-performance, domestically produced engine grew — not only for performance but also for supply chain security. Baykar mobilized efforts accordingly. Supported by 40 national companies under Saha Istanbul and using solely Baykar’s internal resources, the Baykar Motor Development Team initiated the design and R&D of the TM-100 engine.
The result is one of the most advanced aviation engines in its class, featuring triple-redundant motor control units, modular power groups, and advanced thermal management. Initial test flights have been successfully completed.
“We Believed and We Achieved,” Says Haluk Bayraktar
In his statement titled “We believed, we worked together, and we succeeded,” Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar highlighted:
“Bayraktar TB2 is by far the most exported and mass-produced tactical UAV system in its class globally. From the airframe to its electronic-avionic systems, flight control computer, and all software, the TB2 is fully developed with national capabilities. The engine, a combustion-based piston motor, is now domestically developed.
I extend my deepest gratitude to all our supplier companies and their dedicated workers, including Parsan (crankshaft forging), Limoz (gears), Estas (camshaft), Kanca (connecting rods), and Ozgayd (cylinder block casting), who contributed to this major project. May it bring success to our homeland and nation.”
This milestone marks a new era in Türkiye’s UAV capabilities, showcasing its growing independence in defense technology and its potential for future advancements in aerospace.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök