The Bayraktar Mini UAV is a miniature UAV produced by the Turkish company Baykar.[1][2]
System design activities started in 2004 with the concept of short range day and night aerial reconnaissance and surveillance applications. The initial prototype, Bayraktar A, was developed in 2005, and following successful autonomous flight demonstrations, Baykar received a contract to begin serial production. The first batch of the order by the Turkish Armed Forces was composed of 19 aircraft which were mainly deployed to the southeast parts of Turkey to be used in counterterrorism operations.[3] After hundreds of hours flight trials and feedback, the system was subjected to major modifications and a superior version began development. The Bayraktar B Mini UAV System was completed and became operational in December 2007 to be operated by the Turkish Armed Forces.[4][5] Due to its success in the region, the system was also awarded with an export deal to the Qatar Armed Forces in 2012.[6][7] The development of the aircraft is being continued. According to the company, the most recent version, the Bayraktar MINI UAV D, has 2 times greater communication range and 3 times higher maximum altitude compared to its predecessors.[8][9]
Bayraktar B is a hand-launched, portable UAV system, designed to operate under harsh geographic and meteorological conditions.[10][11] Bayraktar B is fielded with small army units, and as of 2021 have recorded more than 100,000 flight hours.[12] System offers a complete autonomy with protective features with a high rank of reliability and easiness for the operators, which makes it a valuable technological asset.[citation needed]
The main features of the Bayraktar B are:
 |
| Specification | Bayraktar A | Bayraktar B | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) | 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) | |
| Wing Span | 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) | 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in), optional 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) | |
| Weight | 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) | 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) | |
| Power / Source | Electric / Battery | Electric / Battery | |
| Take Off | Hand Launch | Hand Launch | |
| Landing | Belly Landing | Belly Landing / Parachute Landing | |
| Communication Range | 10 km (6.2 mi) | 15 km (9.3 mi) With Auto Tracking Antenna System | |
| Endurance | > 60 minutes | > 60 minutes (with 1000 meters operational Altitude) | |
| Operational Altitude | 1,000 ft (300 m) | 3,000 ft (910 m) | |
| Maximum Altitude | 12,000 ft (3,700 m) | 12,000 ft (3,700 m) | |
| Cruise Speed | 70 km/h (43 mph) | 55 km/h (34 mph) | |
| Payload 1 | CCD Camera (Fixed Mount) | CCD Camera (Tilt Axis Movement) | CCD Camera (2 Axis Movement) |
| Payload 2 | Thermal Camera (Fixed Mount) | Thermal Camera (Tilt Axis Movement) | Thermal Camera (2 Axis Movement) |
| Structure | Composite material | Composite material | |
| Operating Crew | 2 | 2 |
