Baykar CEO expects to complete plant in Ukraine in two years

The relevant statement was made by Reuters, referring to Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Our plan is moving ahead. Right now we have architectural design. The detailed design phase is finished. And we will move ahead with construction actually... within two years we would like to finish it,” Bayraktar said on the sidelines of the SAHA defense expo in Istanbul.

According to Bayraktar, this year the company will generate around $1 billion in export revenues, which is about 50% higher compared to last year. The revenues will be invested in the expansion of Baykar’s production lines.

“Our production capacity with TB2, we do 20 units per month. For 2023 our target is to do minimum 30 (units) a month,” Bayraktar noted.

In his words, research and development on the fast drone fighter jet Kizilelma, which analysts say represents significant expansion of capabilities for slow moving reconnaissance and missile carrying drones, will pick up as well. Kizilelma’s maiden flight is expected in the next few months.

In addition, the TB3, a short-runway-capable version of the TB2, is likely to finish its testing phase by the end of 2023.

mk