Turkey flies TB3 UCAV

The TB3 UCAV made its maiden flight on 20 October. (Baykar)

Turkey's Baykar has flown its Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) for the first time.

The maiden flight of the larger and more capable successor to the TB2 took place on 20 October, six months after it was officially unveiled at the Teknofest event held in Istanbul from 27 April to 1 May.

The TB3 has been designed with folding wings for service aboard Turkey's TCG Anadolu aircraft carrier, and its higher maximum take-off weight will enable it to carry a larger and heavier payload than its TB2 stablemate.

It has a length of 8.35 m, a height of 2.6 m, a wingspan of 14 m, a maximum take-off weight of 1,450 kg, and can carry a payload of 280 kg. The maximum speed is 150 kt and the cruise speed is 125 kt. The maximum altitude is 30,000 ft, while its maximum mission radius is 2,200 km at 20,000 ft. The TB3 is powered either by a 170 hp turbodiesel engine or a 141 hp four-stroke piston engine.