Turkey has offered to sell drones manufactured there as part of defence ties between the two countries, according to Ambassador Semih Lütfü Turgut (Turkey’s Amb to Sri lanka).
The Ambassador said during a recent meeting arranged by Pathfinder Foundation that defence procurement is an area of cooperation between the two countries. He said the Sri Lankan military can use Turkish drones for purposes such as maritime surveillance. He said that he had proposed it to the Sri Lankan defence authorities, but nothing had been finalised yet.
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Turkish warship TCG Büyükada visited Sri Lanka in June 2025, emphasising joint efforts in maritime security, including fighting illegal trafficking and ensuring secure sea lanes.Currently, tourism is a growing area of cooperation. Sri Lanka also exports tea to Türkiye.
What is Turkey likely offering to Sri Lanka?
While official government statements often use general terms, the offer is widely understood to involve the Bayraktar family of drones, produced by the Turkish firm Baykar. Given Sri Lanka’s specific interest in maritime security and monitoring illegal trafficking, the following models are the most likely candidates:
- Bayraktar TB2 (Tactical UCAV)
The most probable offering is the Bayraktar TB2. It is Türkiye’s most famous export, known for its “combat-proven” status in Ukraine, Libya, and Nagorno-Karabakh. - Bayraktar TB3 (Maritime/Carrier-Capable)
As of late 2025 and early 2026, Türkiye has been actively promoting the Bayraktar TB3. - TAI Anka or Aksungur
Alternatively, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) offers the Anka or the larger Aksungur.
Aksungur is particularly noted for its high-endurance (up to 50 hours) and its specialized maritime patrol variant, which can carry sonobuoys and magnetic anomaly detectors to track submarines.
In the Indian subcontinent Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldives are already using Turkish drones