The Bayraktar TB2 drone from Turkey became one of Ukraine's mainstays against Russia and was in fact quite effective. This made Russia lodge a protest against the Turkish side.
As reported, the Bayraktar TB2 is claimed by Ukraine to have been able to destroy Russian military vehicles or even target military convoys. A top-level Turkish bureaucratic source said Russia had just filed a complaint with Turkey as to why it supplied the drones.
"Russia is disappointed and from time to time they complain about the drone sale. They have complained before and now they are also complaining," the bureaucrat said as quoted by Reuters on Sunday (10/4/2022).
"But we have already given the answer, that the manufacturer is a private company and the drone purchases have been made since before the war took place," he explained.
The drone was made by a Turkish company called Baykar. Earlier, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister, Yavuz Selim Kiran, stated that the drones were not Turkey's aid for Ukraine but that the Ukrainians had bought them from a Turkish company. The company name is Baykar.
Some time ago, Turkey and Ukraine also agreed that the production of Bayraktar TB2 could be carried out in Ukraine. There are even Turkish drones whose engines are made in Ukraine.
"Private defense industry companies can make such deals with the state. This (drone) is not aid from Turkey. Drones are products purchased by Ukraine from Turkish companies. Moreover, Ukraine is not the only country buying Bayraktar TB2. There are queues for buy it," said Kiran.
"The fact that (Bayraktar TB2) stands out as one of the defense elements of the Ukrainian military really shows the success and quality of the products made by our company. (But) we will not lose our position for negotiations with both sides," he added.
In addition to Ukraine, Baykar has agreed to sell Bayraktar TB2 to other countries such as Qatar, Poland and Azerbaijan. Other countries have also shown interest.
The drone, although clearly not as sophisticated as the United States military drone such as the Reaper, is still considered effective with various advantages and the price is not too expensive.