UAV and UCAV fleet established in Erzurum in 2020 under the General Directorate of Security, Aviation Department, has neutralized 44 terrorists through its operations.
In the fleet established in Erzurum in 2020 under the coordination of police teams, UAVs and UCAVs are operational. Police pilots monitor high-resolution images from the command center, observing their areas of responsibility 24/7, searching for terrorists and criminals.
Bayraktar TB2 UAVs and UCAVs, which have been serving in all 81 provinces of Turkey in various fields such as counter-terrorism and drug enforcement, forest fires, and search and rescue operations, have conducted approximately 10,500 flight hours since their inception. Conducting an average of 250-300 flight hours per month, the UAVs and UCAVs have neutralized 44 terrorists and captured 11 members of terrorist organizations in operations carried out so far.
UAVs and UCAVs Play an Active Role in Counter-Terrorism
UAVs and UCAVs, which detect numerous hideouts, shelters, and explosives belonging to terrorists, are actively used in uncovering the rural activities of the separatist terrorist organization.
Provincial Police Chief Kadir Yırtar stated that pilots observe their areas of responsibility day and night, searching for terrorists and criminals by monitoring high-resolution images from the command center. Yırtar said, “The Aviation Branch, serving as our eyes in the sky, supports our organization in all kinds of operations, primarily counter-terrorism and narcotics, 24 hours a day.”
Yırtar emphasized that the branch has been serving diligently since its establishment, saying, “Approximately 10,500 flight hours have been conducted. Our colleagues continue to fly an average of 250-300 hours per month, generally 70 hours per week. We particularly monitor the rural activities of the separatist terrorist organization through our UAVs and UCAVs. When necessary, we carry out counter-terrorism operations with our UCAVs. In the operations conducted so far, 44 terrorists have been neutralized, and 11 have been captured. Additionally, many shelters and explosive materials have been detected thanks to our UAVs. This is a source of pride for us,” he said.
UAVs are Also Effective in Theft and Forest Fires
Yırtar stated that the team in the branch continuously observes an area of 25,000 square kilometers and that the UAVs and UCAVs taking off from Erzurum can also support cross-border operations when an order is given.
Emphasizing that UAVs and UCAVs facilitate the work of security forces, Yırtar said, “In Van, we enabled the seizure of approximately 383 kilograms of drugs. This is one of the blows dealt to the terrorist organization. During the earthquake disaster in the İslahiye district of Gaziantep, 2 individuals looting from the rubble were identified with UAVs and apprehended by our security forces,” he said.
Yırtar noted that UAVs also provide observational support in forest fires and that periodic maintenance of the UAVs is carried out when there are no flights.
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