Baykar invests $100 million in Ukraine

The Turkish company Baykar, which produces Bayraktar TB2 combat drones, is investing 100 million dollars in three projects in Ukraine, in particular, the construction of a factory for the production of drones will be completed in 1.5 years.

This was stated by the CEO of Baykar, Haliuk Bayraktar, at the Forum of Defense Industries in Kyiv, reports the correspondent of Ukrinform.

"We have three main investments in Ukraine. One of them is a factory. Then we have the service center and also the head office here… It's an investment that is about $100 million and the process is already underway. Construction has already started. It will take about 1.5 years to complete. We plan to employ at least 300 people here. Cooperation continues," Bayraktar said.

He also emphasized that this production will be self-sufficient, ecological, and mutually beneficial, since Ukraine has unique technologies for the production of engines, and the Turkish side has drones on which these engines are installed.

"We also face some challenges. It is the supply chain, the search, and the development of human capital due to the impact of the war and the regulatory environment, especially the rules that will support these investments," said the head of the Turkish company.

According to him, the current war has become a war of unmanned aerial vehicles, and Ukraine has some advantages in it, in particular, due to the use of various types of aircraft, although it is difficult to implement. Feedback from the military on the use of technology is especially important under such conditions. That is why the "bairaktars" used in Ukraine were equipped with a number of unique systems.

Baykar General Director emphasized the support of Ukraine.

"We are not here to maximize our revenues or profits. We are here to support you as much as possible. We respect your struggle for freedom and independence, for preserving your sovereignty," Bayraktar said.

He emphasized that all donations from the Baykar company, as well as from Ukraine and Poland, were used, in particular, for the purchase of radar systems, which have already detected thousands of targets and brought significant results on the battlefield.

Read also: The Baykar company presented Ukrainian scouts with an attack drone

"The total volume of these donations amounted to 106 million dollars," Bayraktar noted.

He added that the Baykar company also implemented a number of humanitarian initiatives, including sending humanitarian cargo and organizing a camp for Ukrainian children.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 01/10/2023