Baykar

Lore & Background

Baykar was founded in 1984 by Özdemir Bayraktar as a CNC precision machining subcontractor for the automotive industry. In the 2000s, it shifted to UAV production, launching the Bayraktar Mini UAV in 2007, the first domestically produced unmanned aerial system in the Turkish Armed Forces inventory. The company's portfolio includes the Bayraktar TB2, Akıncı, and the jet-powered Kızılelma under development. Baykar also tested a flying car called Cezeri in September 2020.

Baykar's drones were used by the Azerbaijani army in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, leading to boycotts from foreign suppliers such as Rotax (Austria), Andair (UK), and Wescam (Canada). In response, Turkish industry provided domestic alternatives including the TEI-PD170 engine, Aselsan CATS optical camera, and Aselsan fuel valve. By January 2021, all boycotted components had been replaced by locally manufactured alternatives.

In 2021, Ukraine used a Bayraktar TB2 for the first time in the war in Donbas. In June 2022, the 'People's Bayraktar' fundraising project raised over ₴600 million in three days to purchase three TB2s. Baykar signed a cooperation agreement with the Come Back Alive foundation in August 2022. In 2024, Baykar announced a $300 million plan to develop its own engine over five years, and in December 2024 it acquired Piaggio Aerospace.

Reader's Guide

Baykar's significance lies in its role as a Turkish defence company that achieved indigenous UAV production, breaking reliance on foreign components after boycotts. The company's drones, particularly the Bayraktar TB2, have been used in conflicts such as the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War and the war in Donbas, demonstrating their impact on modern warfare. Baykar's response to foreign sales restrictions—by replacing imported parts with domestic alternatives—highlights Turkey's growing defence self-sufficiency. The company's acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace in 2024 and joint venture with Leonardo in 2025 signal its expansion into European markets. Baykar's development of the jet-powered Kızılelma and its own engine program underscore its long-term ambitions in advanced UAV technology. The company's leadership by the Bayraktar family, with ties to Turkish President Erdoğan, has positioned it as a key player in Turkey's 'local and national' defence sector.

Did You Know?

• Baykar's name is a portmanteau of 'Bayraktar Kardeşler' (Bayraktar Brothers).
• The company tested a flying car called Cezeri in September 2020, which rose 10 metres above the ground.
• In June 2022, a Ukrainian fundraising project raised over ₴600 million in three days to buy three Bayraktar TB2 drones.
• Baykar acquired Italian aerospace manufacturer Piaggio Aerospace on 27 December 2024.