Turkmenistan demonstrated its military might through a military parade in the capital Ashgabat recently to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the country's independence from the Soviet Union.
One of the defense equipment that has attracted attention is the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Bayraktar TB2 Türkiye which was recently purchased. The use of Erdogan's best-selling drone also marks the strengthening of Turkmenista relations with Turkey.
In recent years, Turkmenistan has focused on modernizing the country's defense capabilities, marking a new era in defense strategy. The country's top official believes that there will be dynamics at the regional geopolitical level, due to the strengthening of the defense system, in particular the presence of Bayraktar TB2 Türkiye in the ranks of Turmenistan's defense equipment.
It is not stated that the dynamics in question come from which country, but it is very likely that they come from several neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia.
In 2021, for example, Turkmenistan deployed heavy weapons to the Afghan border because it felt threatened by the Taliban movement, which at that time was still trying to seize Afghanistan from the legitimate government.
Regional dynamics over Türkiye's purchase of the Bayraktar TB2 drone are also thought to come from Russia. The country led by President Vladimir Putin is known to be very ambitious about reuniting the countries that broke up the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, this was not warmly welcomed by the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
This can at least be seen from Turkmenistan's use of western-made defense equipment, such as the Leonardo M-346FA (Fighter Attack) fighter jet instead of using Russian-made fighter jets. Moreover, Russia also has its own sentimentality with Bayraktar TB2, such as the war in Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia (supported by Russia) and Azerbaijan (which Azerbaijan won thanks to the TB2 drone) to the war in Ukraine.
Video footage shared by the Ukrainian Navy recently showed a Bayraktar TB2 drone destroying a Russian KS-701 patrol boat in the Black Sea. Previously, the Bayraktar TB2 used by Ukraine also caused problems for Russia on the battlefield, although over time Russia began to adapt and was ultimately able to overcome Ukraine's threat from the Bayraktar TB2.
The Bayraktar TB2 drone can fly continuously for 27 hours and three minutes in difficult geographical and climatic conditions such as high temperatures and sandstorms.
As a combat drone, the Bayraktar TB2 can carry various weapons for surface attacks, such as MAM, MAM-L munitions and UMTAS missiles. From the specifications, the Bayraktar TB2 has a wingspan of 15 meters and a maximum takeoff weight of 650 kg.
Bayraktar TB2 is supported by a single engine with a two bladed variable pitch propeller. The engine power reaches 100 hp, technically this drone can travel at a speed of 129 km per hour. Entering the MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) category, this drone can fly for more than 20 hours at an altitude of 6,858 meters. Meanwhile, the cruising distance in Line of Sight (LoS) mode reaches 150 km.
