Posted on May 27, 2022
Turkey’s sought-after combat drones win wars, but risk starting them
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The central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan finally managed to gain an edge over Tajikistan in an ongoing border dispute. In late 2021, it obtained three coveted Turkish Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial combat drones armed with precision missiles that could take out any encroaching armour. That, officials assured the public, would help fend off any incursions by its neighbour.
But not so fast.
Just months later, Turkey agreed to sell the very same drones to Tajikistan, potentially providing Dushanbe with parity in any further military encounters. Outraged officials in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, rang up Ankara.
“They answered that it was just business,” Kyrgyz deputy foreign minister Jeenbek Kulubaev explained to lawmakers in April.
But not so fast.
Just months later, Turkey agreed to sell the very same drones to Tajikistan, potentially providing Dushanbe with parity in any further military encounters. Outraged officials in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, rang up Ankara.
“They answered that it was just business,” Kyrgyz deputy foreign minister Jeenbek Kulubaev explained to lawmakers in April.
Turkey’s sought-after combat drones win wars, but risk starting them
Posted from independent.co.uk
Drones
Turkey
Weapons
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Russia.
“If it pisses off Russia then so be it,” said a senior western official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Russians always deny that they are responsible for weapons that end up in the hands of other forces. Turkey is turning the tables on the Russians, and gives a similar argument. ‘Yes, we sold it. But if you have a problem, you should talk to them.’”
Arms control experts have also suggested that Ukraine’s effective use of the drones against pro-Russian forces in the Donbas region, beginning in October 2021, may have prompted, influenced or hastened Mr Putin’s decision to launch an all-out invasion in February."...
..."Russia.
“If it pisses off Russia then so be it,” said a senior western official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Russians always deny that they are responsible for weapons that end up in the hands of other forces. Turkey is turning the tables on the Russians, and gives a similar argument. ‘Yes, we sold it. But if you have a problem, you should talk to them.’”
Arms control experts have also suggested that Ukraine’s effective use of the drones against pro-Russian forces in the Donbas region, beginning in October 2021, may have prompted, influenced or hastened Mr Putin’s decision to launch an all-out invasion in February."...
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