The Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat drone has launched FPV kamikaze drones from the air for the first time during a test and struck ground targets, manufacturer Baykar announced on November 4, 2026. The trial took place at the Keşan Flight Training and Test Center in Edirne province. According to Baykar, the TB2 took off carrying 16 FPV drones made by Turkish manufacturer Skydagger beneath its wings, flew to the test area, and released two of the drones. Acting as a flying relay node, the TB2 maintained the link to ground operators, and Baykar's press release stated that both drones struck the designated targets with the highest precision.
Baykar head Selçuk Bayraktar published test footage on social networks showing the TB2 fitted with eight drones under each wing on specially adapted mounts, as reported by the trade portal Aviacionline. Ukrainian portal Militarnyi cited Skydagger as stating that the carrier system, designated "Dagger Pod," was developed specifically for the TB2 and features a modular design that allows adaptation to other platforms.
According to Baykar, standard FPV drones on the battlefield average a range of around 15 kilometers, but deploying them from the TB2 extends their operational reach significantly. The mothership configuration also leverages endurance differences: Baykar lists over 18 flight hours for the TB2, whereas the Skydagger RTF 10" remains airborne for only 12 minutes with a warhead, allowing the carrier drone to loiter over an operational area and release FPV drones when targets of opportunity emerge. Aviacionline highlighted potential tactics such as operations in mountainous terrain or escorting advancing ground forces.
The concept mirrors a trend observed in the war in Ukraine, where both sides employ mothership drones to transport smaller FPV drones closer to objectives. Baykar used its established Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) TB2 platform, which has already been exported to 36 countries. Baykar, which describes itself as the world's largest drone company, reported an export record of approximately 1.95 billion euros in 2025, with around 90 percent of its revenue originating from exports. The company holds export contracts with 39 countries, including 16 for the larger AKINCI combat drone, and recently fitted the TB2 with a radar for detecting ground and air targets.
Skydagger, a Turkish manufacturer of FPV kamikaze drones marketed under the slogan "Ready for Combat," produces the Skydagger RTF 10", which manufacturer specifications indicate can carry a warhead of up to 3 kilograms, achieve speeds of up to 130 km/h, and reach a range of 10 kilometers with a maximum flight duration of 12 minutes. The company also offers the smaller RTF 7", the larger RTF 15", a fixed-wing attack drone, the Hunter interceptor drone, and optional equipment including day and dual night cameras, a lidar sensor, and the "Lock" artificial intelligence module for automated target recognition and tracking.
Also reported by HotNews.ro and Zona Militar
