Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar has delivered its first six Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles to Poland.
Three more batches of 18 drones will be delivered as part of an agreement signed with the Polish defense ministry in May 2021.
The contract includes 12 mobile control stations, synthetic-aperture radars, simulators, spare parts, and MAM-L and MAM-C laser-guided missiles, Turkish outlet Daily Sabah reported.
It includes a 24-month warranty, training, logistics, and technology transfer, the outlet added.
Deputy Prime Minister @mblaszczak: We still strengthen the capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces. Today, we received the first delivery of #Bayraktar drones. Next UAV systems will be consistently introduced to the Polish Armed Forces. We use all means to make Poland safe🇵🇱. pic.twitter.com/gBh64Nf4mT
— Poland MOD 🇵🇱 (@Poland_MOD) October 28, 2022
Proved Itself in Ukraine
Endorsing the platform, Polish deputy prime minister and defense minister Mariusz Blazczak said that the drone’s “high effectiveness” has been “proved by Ukraine who used these modern drones to defend themselves against the Russians.”
“There is no modern army without drones. In the case of Bayraktars – drones that will on the one hand carry out reconnaissance missions, and on the other – are ready to also carry out shock missions,” the minister said.
MQ-9A Reaper on Lease
The development comes days after Warsaw signed a lease agreement with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. to deliver an unknown number of MQ-9A Reaper drones.
The $70.6 million deal, including several Reapers, is aimed at bolstering the reconnaissance capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces, the Armament Agency said.
Kolejna inwestycja w bezpieczeństwo Polski. Podpisaliśmy umowę na leasing dla #WojskoPolskie bezzałogowego systemu rozpoznawczego MQ-9A REAPER. To rozwiązanie pomostowe. Będziemy z niego korzystać do czasu pozyskania własnego bezzałogowego systemu rozpoznawczego. pic.twitter.com/N7BWWEvJrT
— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) October 20, 2022
To Acquire MQ-9B
The lease will run until the armed forces’ planned purchase and commissioning of the Reaper.
“GA-ASI’s support for Poland and the NATO alliance is steadfast as they confront the ongoing war in the region,” GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue said.
“We look forward to delivering our proven MQ-9A platform system to Poland to enhance the nation’s ability to conduct persistent airborne [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] and support its defense forces.”
