Turkish combat drones successfully landed on and took off from a highway during an emergency drill, defense firm Baykar said on Friday.
The exercise demonstrated the ability of indigenous Akinci and Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) to operate uninterruptedly when traditional runways are unavailable.
Three aircraft took off from separate bases—a Bayraktar TB2 from Kesan, an Akinci from Corlu, and a Turkish Land Forces Bayraktar TB2 from Izmir—converging on the Manisa-Balikesir Highway.
All three platforms successfully landed on and took off from the highway route, which was selected through field studies across Türkiye.
Baykar plans to expand the runway-free operational concept to all its indigenous platforms, including the Kizilelma unmanned fighter jet and the short-runway ship-capable Bayraktar TB3.
The exercise was conducted in coordination with the Ministry of National Defense and the General Directorate of Highways, with fire and ambulance crews standing by.
Security measures along the route were enforced by the Manisa Governorship, provincial gendarmerie, and police teams, while representatives from the Turkish Armed Forces and Interior Ministry observed.
Self-funded since its inception, Baykar remained the world's largest unmanned aerial vehicle exporter in 2025 with a record $2.2 billion in exports, accounting for 90% of its revenue.
The company has signed export agreements with 40 countries overall, including 37 nations for the Bayraktar TB2 and 16 countries for the Akinci.
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