Not only drones: What Turkish Baykar helps Ukraine and the Armed Forces
Both states and private companies actively supported Ukraine against the background of Russia's invasion in 2022. Many private firms have made every effort to help Ukraine to maintain independence-it is enough to mention free satellite Satellite Starlink systems, provided by SpaceX, donations of 500,000 packs of cigarettes to the Ukrainian army by Philip Morris International. Refugees in Eastern Europe.
Manufacturers of military equipment around the world have also made a significant contribution to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, donating military equipment, ammunition, small drones and weapons. Such support is unprecedented in the history of conflicts and shows how much Russia has underestimated the readiness of Western governments and civil society to support the European country before the threat of destruction.
This determination was not limited to EU members: Turkey has also become a large supplier of military assistance to Ukraine. Interestingly, her assistance took into account the TRLG-230-managed RSZV before the arrival of American Himars to Ukraine. Turkey is also the only NATO country that has put weapons to Ukraine without a clear condition that they will not be used against the goals located in Russia, which Ukraine has enjoyed.
The Turkish government provided considerable military assistance to Ukraine, but the Turkish Baykar Tech drone manufacturer also played a key role in military assistance. Since February 24, Baykar Tech has transferred more than 20 UAVs to Bayraktar TB2, 24 MINI-Bayraktar UAVs, EWS equipment and 12 humanitarian trucks.
In addition to these donations, Baykar sold about 15 TB2 for half price, and thanks to the decision of the company to transfer five TB2 for free, the money for which Lithuania, Ukraine and Poland have collected, released $ 32 million for humanitarian projects and measures to restore Ukraine.
The total cost of donations and discounts Baykar can only be guessed (by the authors, it is approaching $ 100 million), but it is almost probably higher than some Western countries have provided Ukraine as military assistance.
For those who are not sure about Baykar's motifs, CEO and Technical Director Baykar Tech, Khaluk Baracar and Selchuk Baracar frankly marked their commitment to Ukraine, saying that "money is not a priority" for their company and eliminating the opportunity to ever supply drones in Russia. In the world of defense companies, especially in the highly competitive UAV market, such statements are unprecedented.
In addition to the Bayraktar TB2 UAV, provided to Ukraine since 2019, Baykar Tech and Ukraine have developed their cooperation by signing an agreement on the creation of a Bayraktar drone in Ukraine in September 2021. Despite the fact that the Russo-Ukrainian war does not present a rapid completion now, CEO Khaluk Baracar believes that the construction of the plant in Ukraine will end in two years, stating: "Our plan is moving forward. And we seriously intend to move forward in construction.
We would like to finish it for two years. ”The company has made a number of other initiatives that emphasize its close ties with Ukraine. In particular, Baykar Tech seeks to assist Ukraine in the fight against Iranian drone by integrating Sungur Iir MSD with Bayraktar TB2 . Since March 2022, Baykar Tech sent 12 humanitarian trucks to Ukraine.
In August 2022, 140 Ukrainian children were able to visit a weekly summer camp in Istanbul at the expense , 30 Ukrainian universities students received a scholarship from Baykar in 2022 and another 30 students will receive the same DOP Sun in 2023. Military equipment manufacturers, as a rule, do not differ in idealistic position in world politics and are usually associated with excessive greed and tendency to corruption.
Baykar Tech is pleasant from this stereotype, and constant, though not too advertised, the company's efforts deserve praise.
Although skeptics will invariably argue that the Bayraktar TB2 donated to Ukraine will pay back double at the expense of PR, departure of humanitarian trucks, the organization of a summer camp for Ukrainian children and financial support for Ukrainian refugees in Istanbul will not bring any benefits, as well as huge discounts on products or products as a gift of auxiliary equipment.