The United Arab Emirates is reportedly interested in purchasing 120 Bayraktar TB2 strike drones from Turkish Drone manufacturer Baykar, according to a report by Middle East Eye, citing two people knowledgeable about the negotiations.
The UAE started discussions with Emirati arms procurement agency Tawuzan in March to potentially acquire Baykar’s renowned Bayraktar TB2 drones. If the deal goes ahead, it will mean further success for increasingly sought-after Turkish drones.
With successful deployments by Ukraine in its war against Russian forces, and previous uses in Syria, Libya, and Azerbaijan wars, the Bayraktar TB2 has built up a reputation as a capable and advantageous military asset. Baykar is now supplying its drones to more than 20 countries and is in talks with a further 10 more interested nations.
The Bayraktar TB2 drones have proven to be particularly effective for Ukraine in attacking Russian troops deep within Ukrainian territory, and other countries have been paying attention. There is now a several-year waiting list to acquire the drones according to Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar. The manufacturer can only produce 20 of the drones a month, yet there is already a three-year backlog of orders to be fulfilled.
The United Arab Emirates is willing to invest $2 billion to purchase 120 Turkish-made attack drones, which “will come with a package of ammunition, command and control centers, and training” the report said.