Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Turkey

Abstract

Turkey's increasing use of domestically produced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in reconnaissance, intelligence and military operations draws attention. UAVs, which Turkey has started to use effectively, have become a foreign policy and security policy argument and have been increasingly sold to third countries. These UAVs are also effective in changing the regional balance of power. The developing technological infrastructure of UAVs has also enabled these vehicles to be used as a symbol of Turkey's technological development and self-sufficiency and to make them a source of political prestige. The use of UAVs on the battlefield helped make their military advantages and benefits visible, especially in the Karabakh War. This, in turn, affected and changed Turkey's military strategy, enabling it to adapt to new conditions. UAVs were armed shortly after their first use and have been used against terrorists since 2016. The use of UAVs as a tool in the realization of foreign policy purposes besides military purposes has led to an increase in Turkey's military capabilities and soft power, and has made it more prominent as a regional power.

Keywords

• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Power Projection
• Syria
• Libya

İnsansız Hava Araçları (İHA) ve Türkiye

Abstract

Türkiye’nin keşif, istihbarat ve askeri operasyonlarda artan bir şekilde yerli üretim İnsansız Hava Araçları (İHA) kullanımı dikkatleri üzerine çekmektedir. Türkiye’nin etkili bir şekilde kullanmaya başladığı İHA’lar bir dışpolitika ve güvenlik politikası argümanı haline gelmiştir ve üçüncü ülkelere artan bir şekilde satılmaya başlanmıştır. Satışı yapılan bu İHA’lar bölgesel güç dengelerinin değişmesinde de etkili olmaktadır. İHA’ların gelişen teknolojik altyapısı bu araçların Türkiye’nin teknolojik gelişmesi ve kendi kendine yeterliliğinin de sembolü olarak kullanması ve siyasi bir prestij kaynağı haline getirmesine de imkan vemiştir. İHA’ların savaş alanındaki kullanımı, özellikle Karabağ Savaşı’nda, sağladıkları askeri avantaj ve faydanın görünür olmasına yardımcı olmuştur. Bu da Türkiye’nin askeri stratejisini etkilemiş ve değiştirmiş, yeni şartlara adapte olmasını sağlamıştır. İHA’lar, ilk kullanımlarından kısa bir süre sonra silahlandırılmıştır ve 2016 yılından bu yana ülke içindeki, Suriye ve Irak’taki terör hedeflerine karşı kullanılmaya devam edilmektedir. İHA’ların askeri amaçların yanında dışpolitika amaçlarının gerçekleştirilmesinde araç olarak kullanılması, Türkiye’nin hem askeri kabiliyetleri hem de yumuşak gücünde bir artışa sebep olmuş, bölgesel bir güç olarak daha ön plana çıkmasını sağlamıştır.

Keywords

• İnsansız Hava Araçları
• Güç Projeksiyonu
• Suriye
• Libya

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