Poland is set to enhance the operability of its fleet of 24 Bayraktar TB2 drones through a new logistical and service support agreement with Turkish manufacturer Baykar.
The contract, initiated by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), covers three years of maintenance for the tactical drones to ensure their mission readiness.
The agreement can be extended for an additional two years, according to the NSPA.
“This is another example of NSPA’s role in supporting NATO allies by offering adaptable and sustainable logistics solutions that can benefit one nation today and other nations in the future,” NSPA General Manager Stacy Cummings noted.
With the new contract, Poland is expected to further contribute to bolstering NATO’s eastern flank amid rising geopolitical tensions in Europe.
About the TB2 Drones
The Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone designed for combat and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
It features a triple-redundant avionic system that enables fully autonomous taxiing, take-off, landing, and cruise.
With a flight endurance of up to 27 hours, it can reach an altitude of 18,000 feet (5,486 meters) and speeds of up to 120 knots (222 kilometers/138 miles per hour).
The drone also has a payload capacity of 150 kilograms (330 pounds), allowing it to carry four laser-guided smart munitions for combat operations.
Poland procured 24 TB2 drones for $270 million in 2021, with deliveries completed in May 2024.
The provision of lifecycle management for the advanced drones is expected to ensure their high performance and reliability for future Polish missions.