Turkey’s Baykar CEO, Haluk Bayraktar, is considering sending the Bayraktar Akıncı drone to Ukraine.
“With regard to Bayraktar Akinci, this matter is currently under consideration,” The businessman made this statement during an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. “We have permits from our government for this, which demonstrates how close we are to implementation,” he said, as reported by TASS.
During the inaugural International Defense Industries Forum held in Kyiv on September 29, Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar unveiled ambitious plans to establish a Bayraktar drone manufacturing facility in Ukraine within the next 18 months. This significant venture involves an overall investment of approximately $100 million in Ukraine. Besides the production plant, Baykar intends to allocate these funds towards establishing a service centre and its primary office within the country.
These developments highlight Turkey’s commitment to expanding its defence industry presence in Ukraine while fostering a partnership that may lead to the supply of advanced Bayraktar drones to the Ukrainian military.
In August 2022, plans to construct a Bayraktar drone manufacturing facility in Ukraine were unveiled, marking a significant step towards enhancing Ukraine’s defence capabilities. Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey, Vasily Bodnar, initially indicated that the construction process was expected to span several months, with production potentially commencing by late 2023.
However, Bodnar later acknowledged that the ongoing hostilities in the region had necessitated adjustments to the original timeline and strategy for the plant’s establishment.
These adjustments reflect the complex geopolitical landscape in which Ukraine finds itself, where security concerns and changing circumstances can impact long-term defence industry collaborations and timelines.
