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Türkiye is preparing to turn parts of its highway network into emergency runways for military drones, identifying 52 potential road sections that could support landings, takeoffs and deployments during disasters, emergencies and extraordinary logistical operations.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced that authorities have identified 9,562 highway sections meeting the required physical standards, narrowing the list down to 52 potential sites in two stages.
The initial selection includes seven sections, followed by another 45, as the government looks to make existing road infrastructure available for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) when conventional airfields cannot be used.
Türkiye selected the Manisa-Balikesir highway for its first trial, with Akinci and Bayraktar TB2 combat drones successfully landing and taking off from the road.
Preparations included building three parking areas covering 3,600 square meters, removing 5,200 meters of guardrails, and making 45 traffic signs removable. Authorities also cleared the road surface and surrounding areas.
The highway was closed to traffic from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Nov. 12, with vehicles redirected to alternative routes during the exercise.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said the trial demonstrated how existing highways could serve as runways during emergencies, allowing transportation infrastructure to support disaster response and extraordinary logistical operations beyond conventional road transport.
Three drones flew in from separate bases: a Bayraktar TB2 from Kesan, an Akinci from Corlu and a Turkish Land Forces TB2 from Izmir. All three completed landing and takeoff maneuvers on the highway.
Baykar plans to extend the concept to its other domestic platforms, including the Kizilelma unmanned fighter jet and ship-capable Bayraktar TB3.
The company remained the world's largest UAV exporter in 2025, with record exports of $2.2 billion, accounting for 90% of its revenue. It has export agreements with 40 countries, including 37 for the TB2 and 16 for the Akinci.
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