Image source: topwar.ru
The promising Turkish Bayraktar TB3 reconnaissance and strike drone has broken its own altitude record thanks to the PD-170 national engine developed by TUSAS Engine Industries (TEI).
As indicated on the website of Baykar, the creator of the Bayraktar family, the TB3 drone, having made its first flight on October 27, 2023, is constantly being upgraded by switching to local products. Thus, the UAV is already equipped with the national optical-electronic system ASELFLIR-500, which has increased the reconnaissance capabilities of the device.
Now it's the turn of the locally developed power plant. As noted, the drone equipped with PD-170 rose to a previously inaccessible height of 10 thousand m. At the same time, among the Turkish-made UAVs, the record belongs to the Akinci device with an air ceiling of 13.7 thousand m.
Image source: topwar.ru
According to the developer of TEI, the PD-170 turbodiesel engine with a two-stage turbocharging system is significantly ahead of competitors. It has a dry weight of 162 kg and is capable of operating at heights up to 13.7 thousand meters.
The length of the Bayraktar TB3 is 8.35 m, and the wingspan is 14 m (can be folded when ship-based). Its maximum take-off weight is 1,450 kg and its payload is 280 kg. Equipped with a PD-170 engine, it reaches a maximum speed of 300 km/h and a cruising speed of 232 km/ h. The range reaches 1,900 km. The TB3 is equipped with six suspension nodes to accommodate various laser-guided munitions and is equipped with advanced avionics, including a multi-mode radar with AFAR.
