A significant strategic partnership has been forged between aerospace industry giants Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) from Turkey and BAE Systems from the UK, marking a new stage in the development of uncrewed aerial systems. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to evaluate and exploit „joint opportunities” in this vital field for the future of defense.
A Strategic Collaboration in the Innovative Drone Arena
The announcement was made by TAI via an X (formerly Twitter) post on Thursday, stating that „We have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BAE Systems to collaborate on the development of uncrewed air systems.” Under the umbrella of this agreement, both firms „will target joint opportunities in the field of future uncrewed air systems,” the statement detailed. A BAE Systems spokesperson added that the MoU „will see both organisations determine objectives, responsibilities and goals to explore opportunities to collaborate in uncrewed air systems (fixed wing, rotary and hybrid) and related technologies.”
According to a TAI official, cited by Breaking Defense, the partnership will involve TAI sharing its experience in unmanned aircraft development and production, while BAE Systems will support through coordination of regional sales to Europe and other regions. The agreement will cover TAI’s entire UAV product range, not just a single aircraft type. „It’s a long-term process, and we are still at the very beginning. Both companies will act jointly — we have the UAVs, and they have the connections. Together, we’ll see what can be achieved,” the official stated.
Consolidating Defense Ties: Turkey, a Key Player in Europe
This agreement comes amidst an intensification of Turkey’s defense ties with European states. A recent example is the $10.7 billion deal for the acquisition of 20 Eurofighter Typhoons. Similarly, the Spanish cabinet approved the procurement of 45 Hurjet trainers, valued at $3.62 billion. In July, TAI signed a strategic partnership agreement with Airbus, formalizing collaboration for the joint production of the Hurjet.
BAE Systems: An Expanding Portfolio and Ambitious Visions for the Future
For BAE Systems, the latest drone tie-up with TAI comes two months after the company announced plans, under its FalconWorks rapid prototyping division, to link arms with Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works to co-develop a family of autonomous drones, beginning with an aircraft equipped with electronic attack capabilities. FalconWorks’ drone portfolio includes the fixed-wing Koios Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) system, the Malloy Aeronautics produced T-Series all-electric heavy-lift cargo type, and the PHASA-35 High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) platform.
BAE is also set to flight test an Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) in the next year, after revealing a design of the drone wingman in 2024, according to Flight Global. The ACP program is guided by the UK’s strategic defense review and is based on the premise of acquiring systems capable of collaborating with in-service and future generations of combat aircraft, such as the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) sixth-generation platform, while also being able to operate off British aircraft carriers.
A Regional Trend: The Drone Race Gains Momentum
This new European-Turkish drone partnership also bears similarities to Italy’s Leonardo and Turkish prime Baykar’s move to establish a drone joint venture, aiming to capitalize on a European uncrewed aerial systems market valued in excess of $100 billion. This flurry of drone development collaborations underscores not only the strategic importance of these systems in modern warfare but also the firm intention of key players to secure a dominant position in a rapidly expanding market.
