Bayraktar TB-2 returns, Russian forces in the Black Sea are threatened

Bayraktar TB-2 suddenly reappeared, attacking the Russian Navy in the Black Sea after a long time disappearing from the battlefield.

In early September, the Ukrainian Navy announced that it had used a TB-2 to hit a Russian speedboat carrying paratroopers in the Black Sea. The released video showed familiar footage from the UAV’s camera, confirming that the Bayraktar was no longer solely on a reconnaissance mission. This was a significant milestone, marking the first time in months that the TB-2 had returned to an offensive role.

Previously, Ukrainian intelligence released videos of TB-2s destroying small boats at the Zaliznyi port in Kherson and attacking a Russian landing ship in June. These sorties show that this type of UAV is gradually returning to the battlefield in a more active role, instead of just quietly observing and directing targets from afar as it has been for more than a year.

The Bayraktar TB-2 was deployed by Kiev before the conflict broke out. The first attack took place in October 2021, when it destroyed a D-30 artillery piece of the separatists in Donbass. When the conflict broke out, the TB-2 quickly became a formidable weapon, helping to stop the Russian armored column from approaching Kiev and helping to retake Snake Island.

The initial success turned the TB-2 into a symbol of Ukrainian propaganda, even leading to a viral song called “Bayraktar.” The image of the cheap but highly effective UAV helping Ukraine counter the giant Russian military machine became a source of inspiration, showing that modern technology could change the battlefield.

However, the TB-2's glory days were short-lived. Russia quickly deployed a multi-layered air defense system, combined with powerful electronic warfare. The Pantsir-S1, Buk-M2 and Tor-M2 complexes made this slow, low-flying UAV an easy target.

Faced with growing threats, Ukraine has largely withdrawn the Bayraktar from attack missions by 2023. Instead, the UAV only takes on the role of reconnaissance, target designation or participates in some missions in low-risk areas. Many experts have predicted that the Bayraktar will “disappear” from the battlefield because it is no longer suitable for dense air defense environments.

The recent resurgence of the TB-2 is a result of the Ukrainian campaign to destroy Russian air defenses. Attacks by suicide drones, HARM missiles, and glide bombs have opened up holes in Moscow’s radar and missile networks, allowing the Bayraktar to penetrate deeper to strike.

The Tendrivska Spit area in Kherson has emerged as a new hotspot, where Russia controls and uses it as a UAV transit point. The coastal terrain makes short-range air defense difficult, creating opportunities for TB-2 to repeatedly attack Russian ships and logistics targets.

Another advantage for Ukraine is that it can produce Bayraktar domestically. Despite repeated Russian raids, the factory near Kiev has remained operational. This gives Ukraine an additional source of UAVs for risky missions, replacing expensive manned aircraft.

However, analysts warn against expecting a return to glory days for the TB-2; the recent attacks come as Russian air defenses have weakened. Still, the return is symbolic, demonstrating that Moscow cannot control the skies completely.

In addition to its tactical value, the return of the TB-2 shows that Ukraine knows how to adapt quickly. Kiev has proven that even seemingly obsolete equipment can be effective if it exploits the enemy’s weaknesses. In a context where Western weapons are not yet able to make a comprehensive change, reusing domestic UAVs becomes a reasonable choice.

More importantly, Bayraktar rekindles the spirit of fierce resistance that Ukraine had in the early days of the conflict. The image of a small but daring UAV attacking the Russian Navy reinforces the belief that Moscow is not invulnerable. Although it is difficult to turn the tide, the TB-2 can still become a “nightmare” for the Russian fleet in the Black Sea.

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