YIHA-III

Lore & Background

The existence of the YIHA-III was first unveiled in 2023 during a visit by the Commander of the Turkish Air Force at the NASTP Alpha facility in Rawalpindi, though scarce public information was available at the time. The drone came into public view in early 2024 after reports emerged of 'mystery drones' striking Russian military infrastructure in Belgorod during the war in Ukraine; analysis of debris later confirmed it was a YIHA-III. It was officially revealed by Baykar at the SAHA 2026 defence exhibition.

The YIHA features an UMTAS ATGM warhead fitted to a tubular body with a fixed tricycle-style landing gear, enabling launch from a runway or a catapult system. After launch, the drone can loiter, detect a target, and attack with a vertical dive. It can also be used in swarm mode. The drone uses a small piston engine driving a pusher propeller, fixed wheeled undercarriage, and a gimbaled electro-optical camera on its nose. It is designed to operate at altitudes up to 4,000 ft with a service ceiling of 10,000 ft.

Two variants exist: the UM variant is a simplified, lower-cost version with communications ranging out to 10 km+, a flight time of 9+ hours, and a maximum operational range of 1,000 km. The UMX variant has AI-enabled guidance and improved data connectivity, designed to relay communications via other Baykar UAVs including the TB2, TB3, and Akıncı. The UMX can maintain communications and engage 'fire-and-forget' mode at ranges over 80 km, with a maximum operational range of 900 km. Both variants have top cruising speeds of 102 km/h, with a maximum speed of 130 km/h likely achieved during the terminal flight phase.

Reader's Guide

The YIHA-III has seen combat use in multiple theaters. During the Russo-Ukraine war, it was used by Ukrainian forces to strike targets inside Belgorod, Russia, approximately 40 km from the border. The Turkish military has utilized the drone against high-value targets during operations in Northern Syria. In Pakistan, YIHA drones in service with the Pakistan Air Force have been deployed in anti-terrorist operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar in 2024 targeting terrorist hideouts in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan Province. In May 2025, many YIHA drones were deployed against Indian military targets in Indian Administered Kashmir and mainland India as part of Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos. In February and March 2026, they were deployed against military bases of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan during Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq. The drone has also been used by the March 23 Movement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with debris recovered at Bangoka International Airport and two more shot down near Mikenge in March 2026, suggesting widespread usage. Operators include Turkey (locally manufactured, operationalized with the airforce in early 2024 at PAF Base Murid), Albania (donated by Turkey, began operating in March 2025 at Kuçovë), and unknown units acquired by Rwanda and provided by Turkey. The Uzbekistan air force has also been seen in a video showing their military drone capabilities.

Did You Know?

• The YIHA-III is also known as Sivrisinek, Turkish for 'Mosquito'.
• Debris from the drone was recovered at Bangoka International Airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2026.