Ukrainian MPs visit Turkish plant producing Bayraktar TB2 drones

The representatives of the Verkhovna Rada Group on Interparliamentary Relations with the Republic of Turkey visited the Baykar Teknolojileri production facilities in Istanbul.

"We strengthen defense cooperation with Turkey. Ukraine establishes cooperation with the Turkish company Baykar. Today, we have visited the facilities producing the Baykar Teknolojileri military equipment. The company demonstrates a high level of production effectiveness and quality," Rustem Umerov, co-chair of the Verkhovna Rada Group, posted on Facebook on January 13.

The MP reminded that the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and Haluk Bayraktar, CEO of Baykar, signed in September 2021 a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and Bayraktar Savunma on construction and equipment of a joint training center for maintenance, repair, and modernization of unmanned combat aerial vehicles, as well as training of personnel involved in the operation of Bayraktar UCAVs.

"For a long time, our army has seen the lack of unmanned systems that could be used to reconnoiter and adjust artillery fire. Strengthened cooperation with our Turkish partners can gradually solve this problem," Umerov noted.

The politician reminded that the Ukrainian Navy had received the first Bayraktar TB2 UCAV last July. This vehicle has an extended range of up to 300km and provides a possibility to place control stations on the Navy ships.

"We do not want a war, but we are ready to resist in order to protect our people and borders. That is why we do not stand still. We bolster the performance of our Armed Forces. The defense of the future is not sabre-rattling, but the use of intellect to reduce human losses," Umerov wrote.

As reported, on January 12-13, the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation visited Ankara and Istanbul.

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