KIEV, Ukraine
Ukraine has successfully tested the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) purchased from Turkey, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko said on Wednesday.
"I congratulate the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the people of Ukraine. Today we have a completely new weapon, armed unmanned aerial vehicle," Poroshenko said following tests in a military base in western Khmelnytsky region of Ukraine.
Earlier in the month, the Ukrainian president had announced his country received Modern Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey.
Poroshenko, who personally witnessed the test of the UAVs from the ground control station, shared on social media a video showing the UAVs detected and hit their targets.
He also said that the UAV complex will be given to the service of special forces, airborne troops, mechanized and other units in Ukraine.
"Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle will make a good contribution to strengthen Ukraine's defensive capability," he said.
Earlier, Poroshenko said that the next step of the program is the creation of a joint Ukrainian-Turkish enterprise in southeastern Zaporizhia city of Ukraine that will produce components for modern unmanned technology.
Based on the agreement in January, Turkish UAV manufacturer Baykar was to produce six Bayraktar TB2 and deliver them to Ukraine in a year. Along with the UAVs, three ground control station systems and equipment was also mentioned to be delivered.
Bayraktar TB2 has been used by the Turkish Armed Forces and Turkey's Security Directorate since 2015.
The TB2 armed UAV, was developed for tactical reconnaissance and surveillance missions and it can also carry ammo, do assaults, and has laser target acquisition.
As of January 2019, Turkish Armed Forces had a fleet of 75 Bayraktar TB2 platforms.
