France’s Safran and Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar have signed a deal to expand cooperation on unmanned aerial systems, focusing on sensors, navigation technologies, and guided weapon integration.
Under the agreement, the companies will work on integrated solutions combining electro-optical payloads, positioning and navigation systems, and precision-guided capabilities for drone platforms and air-to-ground operations.
As part of the cooperation, Baykar’s Bayraktar TB2 drones will be equipped with Safran’s Euroflir electro-optical targeting system to enhance surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting capabilities.
The partnership also signals broader industrial cooperation between the two defense firms, with joint efforts expected in technology development, operational integration, and international market activities.
According to the companies, the agreement strengthens Baykar’s efforts to expand subsystem partnerships with Western defense suppliers, while giving Safran a role in one of the most widely exported tactical drone platforms currently in service.
Wider Industrial Push
Since the start of the year, Safran has deepened its role in guided weapons development through multiple industrial partnerships.
Together with MBDA, the company recently completed a live demonstration of the THUNDART guided rocket in France, integrating its modular air-to-ground weapon guidance kit into the system.
Safran also entered into a separate agreement with the UAE’s EDGE Group to jointly develop export-oriented smart weapon systems.
Baykar, meanwhile, has continued expanding both its strike portfolio and international weapons integration efforts.
The company signed a deal with EDGE to integrate Al Tariq precision-guided munitions onto the Bayraktar Akıncı combat drone, while also unveiling Mizrak, a new long-range loitering munition designed for autonomous strike missions.
