Türkiyes defense manufacturer Baykar unveiled the K2 long-range kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicle on March 14, 2026, introducing a runway-operated loitering munition designed for extended strike missions and coordinated swarm operations. Unlike tube-launched systems, the K2 takes off from short, unprepared runways while carrying a 200-kilogram warhead, enabling deep strikes against high-value targets like logistics nodes, radar installations, and naval vessels.
Flight tests at the Kesan Flight Training and Test Center in Edirne province demonstrated five K2 UAVs executing precise formations—including right echelon, line, and V shapes—over the Saros Gulf. The aircraft maintained positions autonomously via onboard sensors and AI-assisted software, with no pilot intervention required. Baykar reports a maximum takeoff weight of 800 kilograms, operational range over 2,000 kilometers, speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour, and endurance beyond 13 hours.
The tailless design features swept wings, forward lifting canards for short takeoffs, and an electro-optical gimbal for targeting, including night operations. Navigation relies on visual terrain matching to counter GNSS jamming. Resembling the Bayraktar TB2 in fuselage but with distinct aerodynamics, the K2 integrates AI for swarm coordination, target identification, and engagement, expanding Baykars strike portfolio.