Baykar, a prominent Turkish drone manufacturer, selects Samsun as the location for its inaugural Anatolian factory.
Baykar to Establish First Anatolian Production Hub in Samsun
Baykar, a leading defense and aerospace company renowned for its globally acclaimed drones, is set to establish its first Anatolian production hub in Samsun, the Black Sea province. This move is expected to transform the region into an important center for the defense and aerospace industry.
Samsun, strategically located in the northern part of the Anatolian peninsula along the southern coast of the Black Sea, is known for its symbolic significance as the city where Mustafa Kemal Ataturk landed, marking the start of the Turkish War of Independence. It is also seen as a strategic point for regional connectivity, trade, and logistics.
The new production hub in Samsun will be located in a 400-decare special industrial zone and is expected to bring high-tech manufacturing capabilities and high-quality jobs. However, the statement did not provide information about the number of jobs the new investment in Samsun will bring.
Baykar has developed several prominent drone platforms, including the Bayraktar TB2 tactical unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), Bayraktar Akıncı, a high-altitude, long-endurance combat drone, and Bayraktar TB3, the first armed UCAV capable of operating from short-runway ships. The company is also working on the development of the Kızılelma, the first unmanned fighter jet.
While the Samsun hub is intended to bring advanced drone manufacturing capabilities to the Black Sea region, the company has not disclosed which specific Baykar drone models will be produced there. The Bayraktar TB2 drones have gained global prominence, having been used by Ukraine's military against Russian forces, as well as in campaigns in Azerbaijan and North Africa.
Samsun Mayor Halit Dogan described Baykar as a pioneer of Turkey's national technology initiative. The new investment in Samsun is expected to further boost the city's status as a hub for technological advancement and innovation.
[1] Source: TechCrunch [2] Source: Defense News [3] Source: Anadolu Agency
- The establishment of Baykar's first Anatolian production hub in Samsun is expected to position the city as a significant player in the global defense and aerospace industry.
- With the strategic location of Samsun along the Black Sea coast, the new production hub could potentially enhance regional connectivity and trade for the business sector.
- As Baykar expands its technology capabilities through the Samsun production hub, the city's status as a hub for technological advancement and innovation is further reinforced.
- With various cutting-edge drone platforms already in production, it remains to be seen which specific models will be produced at the new production hub, further escalating Turkey's presence in the global defense and technology industry.
