15.01.26
Uzbekistan has begun using Turkey-produced Bayraktar attack and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles to protect its state border. This was announced by Bahodir Kurbanov, Chairman of the State Security Service, at an expanded meeting of the Security Council under the President of the country.
The Security Council meeting took place on January 13, 2026, with the participation of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In his remarks at the meeting, Kurbanov stated that a new special unit equipped with Bayraktar unmanned aerial vehicles has been established in the country’s border regions.
According to the released video footage, the deployment concerns Bayraktar TB2 drones. This is a Turkish-made operational-tactical attack unmanned aerial vehicle capable of flying at medium altitude. It is equipped with an internal combustion engine and a pusher propeller. The aircraft can carry up to four guided munitions and remain airborne for 12 to 24 hours, enabling long-duration patrol missions.
The Bayraktar TB2 has a maximum control range of up to 150 kilometers, allowing for continuous aerial monitoring and rapid strikes against identified targets. The use of such unmanned aerial vehicles is considered more efficient compared to manned aviation. It should be noted that the developer and manufacturer of the Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle is the Turkish company Baykar Makina.
