According to information published by RFI on May 25, 2022, Niger receives six Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2, delivered to Niamey airport. This is the first part of an arms contract signed in November.

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 Bayraktar TB2 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (Picture source: QulshTM)

The Bayraktar is a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed, designed, and manufactured by the Turkish Company Baykar.

The Bayraktar TB2 is capable of conducting Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and armed attack missions. The design of the Bayraktar consists of a monocoque fuselage integrating an inverse v-tail structure. The engine is positioned between the tail booms and fuel is stored in bladder tanks.

Made of carbon fiber, Kevlar, and hybrid composites, the Bayraktar TB2 has a length of 6.5m, a wingspan of 12m, and a maximum take-off weight of 630kg. It is powered by a sole 100hp Rotax 912 Internal Combustion Engine.

It has a range of more than 150 km and a top speed of 130 km/h. The Bayraktar TB2 can fire a wide range of weapons, such as the 22.5 kg Roketsan MAM-L Smart Munition or even the long-range anti-tank missile UMTAS.