Kuwait has officially received its first Bayraktar TB2 tactical unmanned aerial systems from Turkey, commemorating the milestone with a launch ceremony at Ali Al Salem Air Base.
This delivery follows Kuwait’s $367 million investment aimed at bolstering its military’s autonomous capabilities for strike operations, intelligence gathering, border and maritime surveillance, and search and rescue missions.
The procurement includes essential logistical and sustainment support.
According to Kuwait Times, the ceremony featured a technical presentation outlining the drone’s capabilities, followed by a live demonstration. Government officials also toured operational facilities and met with Kuwaiti drone crews.
With this acquisition, Kuwait becomes the 29th nation to field the Bayraktar TB2, a combat-proven drone that has seen action in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, and Azerbaijan.
The Bayraktar TB2 features a 7-meter (23-foot) fuselage, 12-meter (39-foot) wingspan, and is equipped with GPS, EO/IR cameras, a laser rangefinder and pointer, and a 100-hp internal combustion engine.
It reaches speeds up to 120 knots (222 km/h or 138 mph), has an endurance of up to 27 hours, a range of 150 km (93 miles), and a ceiling of 8,230 meters (27,001 feet).
The Kuwait Air Force had previously conducted initial evaluations of the system in February in the Kisah region.
