Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones proving to be a ‘game-changer’ in Ethiopian Civil War

The 13-month-long Ethiopian war against the Tigray rebels in the north has recently been tilting in favor of the Abiy Ahmed government, thanks to the use of drones procured from some friendly countries.

The Ethiopian military has reportedly captured strategic towns with the help of early intelligence and airpower owing to these armed drones, allowing it to secure a significant military edge against the rebels forces that had earlier vowed to “drive out” enemies.

The government’s counteroffensive against fighters from northern Tigray has achieved significant progress, reversing the Tigrayan forces’ recent remarkable victories in their push southwards, reported Al Jazeera.

The important cities of Dessie and Kombolcha were recaptured by Ethiopia’s combined security forces this week, the latest in a string of combat successes since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced last month that he would head to the front lines and urged Ethiopians to join the fight.

With only 22 combat-capable aircraft, Ethiopia’s tiny Air force appears to have realized that airpower and timely intelligence may make all the difference in a fight, especially one fought over vast and sometimes hilly terrain like that in Ethiopia’s north where the Tigray rebels hold a clear sway, politically and militarily.

It is believed that Ahmed’s administration has reached out to countries producing low-cost drones in recent months in the hopes of using air power to reverse the tide in its favor.

According to earlier reports, the government has sought a number of Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey.

Ethiopia deployed the Turkish Bayraktar, a medium-altitude and long-endurance (MALE) drone.

Earlier, reports had emerged that Turkey was negotiating deals with Ethiopia and Morocco after these drones had proved their mettle in global conflict zones, including the Nagorno-Karabakh war last year.

The Bayraktar TB2 doesn’t carry a lot of weaponry, neither it moves move very fast, yet these drones could prove very lethal on the battlefield.

The drones’ slow flight speed allows them to stay in the air for hours, focusing on details that reconnaissance planes would struggle to spot. Because of their short range, they can return to base swiftly for refueling and rearmament, and be back over the target area in a matter of hours.

Multiple drones can be flown simultaneously, allowing for a near-constant presence over the battle-space, making surprise tactics by one’s opponent considerably less likely to succeed.

Each Bayraktar TB2 system comprises six aerial vehicles, two ground control stations (GCS), three ground data terminals (GDTs), two remote video terminals (RVTs), and ground support equipment. It can carry a payload of 150kg and can fly at any time of day or night.

The TB2’s significant role in three recent conflicts – western Libya, northern Syria, and Nagorno-Karabakh — demonstrated their capabilities as well as the evolution of drones from useful counterterrorism tools to battlefield weaponry. These drones have acted decisively in the fight against Tigray forces.

While the US is unwilling to share advanced technology, regional competitors have stepped in to produce armed drones that, while not as effective, can nonetheless shift the tide and become decisive weapons in any modern fight.

Countries like Turkey have rushed to fill the vacuum that has shown results on the Ethiopian battlefield and dealt decisive blows to the Tigray forces.

Source: Eurasian Times