Polish Bayraktar TB2 Drones Equipped with AESA Radar

A Polish Bayraktar TB2 drone has been spotted fitted with a radar system in place of its standard electro-optical station, according to a report by Turkish TurDef defense media outlet.

The drone is believed to be equipped with Leonardo’s Osprey 30 AESA radar, making Poland the first country to integrate this system on the Turkish-made UAV.

Poland announced plans to fit its Bayraktar TB2 drones with the Osprey 30 radar in 2021.

Under the contract, two radars are to be delivered for each of the four drone systems purchased from Baykar, enabling one-third of the fleet to carry the system.

Osprey 30 AESA Radar

The Osprey 30 radar is a lightweight, multi-role X-band radar featuring synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capabilities. It can detect and track ground and aerial targets, conduct terrain mapping, and function as a weather radar.

The number of antennas depends on the angular coverage to be provided by the station. In the minimum single-antenna configuration, the station weighs 28 kg.

The configuration used in Polish vehicles will likely have four antennas to provide 360-degree coverage.

According to Leonardo, the radar has a maximum range of 200 nautical miles (approximately 370 km) and can detect maritime targets.

Polish Bayraktar TB2

Poland signed a contract with Baykar in 2021 for four unmanned aerial systems, each comprising six UAVs, for a total of 24 drones.

The first batch was delivered in October 2022, and the final systems arrived in May 2024.

The agreement includes MAM-L and MAM-C precision-guided munitions from Roketsan, enabling the drones to conduct strike missions.
It also covers mobile ground control stations, simulators, spare parts, a two-year warranty, and a training and logistics package.

Additionally, the deal covers the transfer of maintenance and repair technologies for the UAVs, engines, control stations, and onboard sensors.