Baykar unveils AI-powered K2 and Sivrisinek swarm drones

Turkish defense giant Baykar has unveiled its next-generation autonomous combat drones during a swarm demonstration ahead of their public debut at the SAHA 2026 defense expo in Istanbul next month. The K2 Kamikaze UAV and the Sivrisinek loitering munition operated in highly coordinated, AI-powered swarms during a field test at the company’s Kesan Test Center. The event began with five K2 drones taking off and flying in complex formations, soon joined by a swarm of ten Sivrisinek munitions. Baykar’s larger Bayraktar TB2, TB3, and Akinci combat drones escorted and recorded the operation from above.

GPS-independent navigation and strike range

The drones successfully performed positioning, navigation, and targeting completely independent of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), using advanced AI-powered visual navigation software. The AI allows the swarm to carry out autonomous target detection and strikes even when GPS signals are jammed or unavailable. The Sivrisinek loitering munition represents a major leap in operational depth with a strike range exceeding 1,000 kilometers (621.3 miles). The munition maintains continuous communication within the swarm, instantly sharing target data to coordinate simultaneous strikes. During the test, the Sivrisinek swarm carried out coordinated dives on designated coordinates, followed by high-speed dive maneuvers from the K2 Kamikaze UAVs.

Baykar’s global dominance

Baykar funded its research entirely through its own resources and retained its status as the world’s largest UAV exporter in 2025, setting a new company record with $2.2 billion in export volume, according to the firm’s report on Friday. The company generated 90% of its revenue from global sales and has secured export deals with some 38 countries for its combat drone fleet. For Türkiye, which faces ongoing security threats on multiple borders and has used Baykar drones effectively in counter-terrorism operations, these new AI-enabled swarm systems represent a force multiplier that reduces reliance on foreign satellite navigation and enhances autonomous strike capabilities.