FutureFlight On The Radar
Could Defense Exports Support or Disrupt Baykar's Plans For Personal Air Vehicles?
The Turkish company is looking to expand export sales of military equipment such as its TB2 tactical drones while also developing plans for personal air vehicles in consumer markets.

Baykar Technologies’ plans to develop its Cezeri personal air vehicle (PAV) may be getting a boost from the Turkish industrial group’s growing defense sales. The privately-owned group has extensive experience developing military drones, as well as command, control, communication, computer, and intelligence systems and payload hardware.

In particular, the company’s Bayraktar TB2 tactical armed unmanned air vehicle (UAV) is attracting interest from prospective export customers as an alternative to far more expensive U.S.-produced military drones. In December, UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace hailed the performance of the TB2, fueling reports that the British Army may consider the technology as part of the five-year defense acquisition review that is due to start in the coming weeks.