During the first month of the russian-Ukrainian war, Turkish drones Bayraktar TB2, which belong to the Armed Forces, proved their high efficiency and became very popular in Ukraine. So much so that newborn boys are given the name Bayraktar.
But we are interested in the experience of using Bayraktar TB2 systems in hostilities. The coryxspioenkop.com website constantly updates the list of losses of the russian armed forces in armaments based on photos and videos from open sources. Of course, the real losses are much higher, but this material shows the trends and, importantly for us, the losses caused by the actions of Bayraktar TB2 drones. Mostly these drones destroyed their targets, but much less often damaged them.
Read more: The Armed Forces of Ukraine Have Demonstrated Bayraktar TB2 UAV's Unique Capabilities
The list of losses of the russian armed forces in weapons and ammunition caused by the actions of Bayraktar TB2 drones as of March 24, 2022 is given below:
- Out of 206 lost auxiliary armored vehicles, 1 MT-LB Light Armored Multi-purpose Vehicle with Zu-23 anti-aircraft gun and 3 vehicles of unrecognized type were destroyed.
- Of the 11 lost communication stations, 1 of an unrecognized type was destroyed.
- Of the 50 lost engineering vehicles, 1 "KAMAZ-5350" tactical truck with an excavator was destroyed.
- Of the 41 lost cannons and howitzers, 7 152-mm "Msta-B" howitzers were destroyed and 2 were damaged.
- Of the 33 lost MLRS, 1 220-mm BM-27 "Uragan" was destroyed.
- Of the 40 lost SPAAG SAMS, 10 were destroyed ( 1 9A39M1 TEL and 1 "Buk-M1-2" (SA-17 "Grizzly") medium range SAM system, 4 9A310M2 TELAR and 1 "Buk-M2"(SA-17 "Grizzly") , 1 "Tor-1"(SA-15 "Gauntlet") tracked SAM system, 1 "Tor-2"(SA-15 "Gauntlet") and 1 "Pantsir - 1" (SA-22 "Greyhound") self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon.
- Of the 35 lost helicopters, 2 Ka-52 "Alligator" (Hokum B) with artillery and 7 unidentified types with artillery were destroyed.
- 2 Fuel trains were destroyed.
- Out of 593 lost trucks, 7 Ural-4320 vehicles, 4 - KamAZ 6x6, 3 KamAZ-6350 8x8 artillery tractors (and 2 damaged) and 8 trucks of unrecognized type were destroyed.
What is the reason that Bayraktar TB2 strike drones, which were highly effective in past local conflicts, inflicted such small losses on the russian armed forces?
Firstly, there were not many of these drones in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (two kits were initially reported, totaling 12 drones and 6 control stations, then there were probably more supplies). They were saved for the most important cases. And if they were used for strike purposes, then for self-defense against SAM, or to solve particularly important tasks, such as the defeat of the air base in Chornobayivka
And secondly, and most importantly, such drones were used mainly for reconnaissance and surveillance. Using the Canadian station CMX-15D Wescam, they proved to be very effective in this role, and many military successes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were achieved thanks to the actions of Bayraktar TB2 as air reconnaissance and artillery fire adjustment system.
The russian Defense Ministry falsely claimed that during the war from February 24 to March 17, 18 such drones were shot down. They stated that the entire Bayraktar fleet has been destroyed. But they were able to find a confirming photo of only one crashed drone. And then - it is unknown where and under what circumstances.
However, even if almost all of Ukrainian Bayraktars are intact and continue to terrify the russian invaders, it doesn’t matter: Ukraine needs new supplies of such drones, and more. Then the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be able to use them en masse and, mainly, in a striking role - as did the Azerbaijani Armed Forces during the war in Karabakh in 2020. It is known how this war ended. Therefore, Ukraine also needs Bayraktar TB2 drones. For victory.
Read more: The 32th Day of the War: Russia has lost 16 600 Personnel, 582 Tanks and 121 Aircraft
