The Kuwait Armed Forces have officially received their first batch of BAYRAKTAR TB-2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), marking a key milestone in the country’s defense modernization efforts. The arrival was announced during an inauguration ceremony held at Salem al-Sabah Air Base, attended by Defense Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah al-Sabah, Air Force Commander Major General Sabah Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah, and other senior military officials.

In an official statement, Sheikh Abdullah emphasized that “the deployment of the BAYRAKTAR TB-2 drone reflects the wise political leadership’s commitment to the continuous development and modernization of defense systems, aimed at enhancing combat readiness and ensuring the highest levels of national security and stability.”

The ceremony featured 3 TB-2 UAVs displayed inside a hangar, a technical briefing on their operational capabilities, and a live demonstration. Following the presentation, the Defense Minister toured the facility, inspected the systems, and met with officers and technicians involved in the program. On this occasion, Sheikh Abdullah also highlighted the strategic value of investing in national talent, particularly in training technical and operational personnel to manage such advanced systems.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the TB-2 will significantly enhance border and airspace security, with a primary focus on intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The Ministry also expressed pride in the national competencies that contributed to the program, though no specific details were provided regarding the domestic industrial role in the acquisition.

The $367 million contract with Baykar, announced in June 2023, reportedly includes a package of 18 TB2 UAVs - although the exact number remains unconfirmed. The agreement encompasses training, mobile ground control stations, weapons, electronic warfare systems, a simulator, spare parts, and technical support for 3 years. It also includes 1.800 MAM-L (Mini Smart Munitions) manufactured by Roketsan.

Kuwait has been steadily preparing for the integration of the new aerial system, with the first batch of TB-2 operators graduating in Turkey in July 2024, followed by a second cohort in February 2025.

This delivery marks yet another international success for Baykar and its flagship system, already combat-proven in Libya, Azerbaijan, and the Russia-Ukraine war (mostly during the very first weeks of the conflict).

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