Kenya has taken delivery of six Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs from Turkey. Trainees from Kenya had successfully completed their Bayraktar UCAV training at the Baykar Flight Training Center and graduated back in August 23rd 2024.
A UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle) is a drone designed for a range of operations, including reconnaissance and surveillance, as well as attacking targets. They are also referred to as combat drones, fighter drones, or battlefield UAVs.
The Bayraktar TB2 drones delivered to Kenya are equipped with Aselsan’s Aselflir-500 EO/IR/LD cameras, enhancing their surveillance and targeting capabilities. The drones have ability to fly for up to 27 hours and carry lightweight, laser-guided bombs.
It is anticipated that Kenya will incorporate the TB2 unmanned aerial systems into its surveillance operations, notably in counter-terrorism efforts against Al-Shabaab. With an official stating that Kenya will “leverage the drones to enhance surveillance and strengthen counterinsurgency efforts in a region increasingly plagued by security threats,”
Prior to this delivery, Kenya’s drone fleet, as documented by Military Africa’s Drone Procurement Dataset, comprised a mix of tactical and long-range systems.
These include three Turkish Aerospace Anka-S MALE drones (2015), six Unmanned Aeronautics GhostRay drones, five Boeing Insitu ScanEagles, and eight AeroVironment RQ-11 Ravens (2012).
Bayraktar TB2 Presence in Africa
With $1.8 billion in exports in 2023, Turkey’s Baykar is a leading defense and aerospace company. Generating 90% of its revenue from international sales, the company has secured export agreements to supply the Bayraktar TB2 to 34 countries and the Bayraktar Akinci to 10 countries.
Kenya joins other African nations like Burkina Faso, Togo, Niger, Nigeria, and Morocco in acquiring or expressing interest in Bayraktar TB2 drones. Recently, the Nigerian army acquired 43 of the same drones.
Like in Kenya, the Nigerian drones are expected to play a role in counter-insurgency operations, providing enhanced surveillance and operational efficiency in challenging terrains.
