Bayraktar Akıncı in Egypt: Claims vs Satellite Evidence

Satellite imagery analysed by Janes and Reuters indicates that Bayraktar Akıncı UCAVs are operating from East Oweinat airbase in southern Egypt. Neither Cairo nor Baykar has announced a contract, and no evidence of the TB2 in Egyptian service was found in the reports reviewed.

Satellite imagery reported by Janes and Reuters in early February 2026 indicates that at least one Bayraktar Akıncı, and probably more, has been operating from Sharq el-Owainat (East Oweinat) airbase in southern Egypt. Neither Egypt nor Baykar has publicly announced an Akıncı or TB2 contract, however. In addition, no public imagery or official confirmation of the Bayraktar TB2 in Egyptian service was found in the reports reviewed.

The question of Bayraktar Akıncı in Egypt brings together several strands of evidence: a statement from Ankara, trade-show displays in Cairo and El Alamein, an unverified trade-press claim and commercial satellite imagery. None of them amounts to an announced contract. They do not, however, yet amount to an officially documented export programme.

What has been said officially

The clearest official signal came in February 2024, when Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Türkiye had an agreement to provide Egypt with UAVs and other technologies, as reported by Arab News. Fidan did not name a system, give a number or set out a timetable. The statement therefore confirmed political intent, but not which aircraft would be involved.

Since then, neither the Egyptian government nor Baykar has publicly announced a contract covering either the Akıncı or the TB2, according to the reports reviewed for this article. For separate naval news, see our report on Türkiye’s interest in joint MILGEM warship building with Egypt.

Trade-show signals: EDEX 2023 and Egypt International Airshow 2024

Baykar has used Egypt’s main defence exhibitions to showcase its portfolio to Egyptian audiences:

EDEX 2023 (Cairo, December 2023): Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı models were exhibited bearing the Egyptian flag, according to TURDEF.
Egypt International Airshow 2024 (El Alamein, September 2024): Baykar displayed a full-size Bayraktar KALKAN mock-up alongside 1/10-scale Akıncı and TB2 models, as reported by Anadolu Agency on 5 September 2024.
Trade-press claim: Tactical Report, a paywalled publication, has claimed that Egypt’s Ministry of Military Production was in talks with Baykar to acquire the Akıncı. This claim has not been independently verified.

Trade-show displays signal commercial interest, but they are not proof of a signed contract. The Egyptian displays nonetheless underline Baykar’s position as one of the most sought-after exporters of unmanned aircraft. The company’s wider footprint on the continent is covered in our overview of the Bayraktar Akıncı in Africa.

What satellite imagery shows at East Oweinat

The most substantial evidence comes from open-source imagery analysis. In a report dated 3 February 2026, Janes analyst Jeremy Binnie said satellite imagery shows at least one Akıncı, and probably more, operating from Sharq el-Owainat airbase in southern Egypt. A day earlier, on 2 February 2026, Reuters reported that a satellite image dated 28 December 2025 shows an Akıncı at East Oweinat, with three military experts confirming the aircraft type to the agency.

Date	Development	Source
December 2023	TB2 and Akıncı models shown with the Egyptian flag at EDEX 2023, Cairo	TURDEF
February 2024	FM Hakan Fidan says Türkiye has an agreement to provide Egypt with UAVs and other technologies	Arab News
September 2024	KALKAN full-size mock-up and Akıncı/TB2 scale models displayed at El Alamein	Anadolu Agency
17–21 July 2025	Possible containerised ground-control station and satcom antenna appear at the base	Janes
3 August 2025	Akıncı first seen in a Vantor satellite image	Janes
28 December 2025	Planet Labs image almost certainly shows two Akıncıs together; Reuters image of the same date shows an Akıncı	Janes; Reuters
2–3 February 2026	Reuters and Janes publish imagery-based reports	Reuters; Janes

The Akıncı is Baykar’s HALE-class unmanned combat aerial vehicle and is in service with several countries. The appearance of the aircraft in imagery of an Egyptian airbase is consistent with the agreement Fidan described in 2024. However, the imagery alone does not establish the terms under which the aircraft are present. For broader context on Egypt’s air power, see our Egypt military strength profile.

What is not known or confirmed

Several key details remain outside the public record:

Numbers: Janes assesses at least one and probably more aircraft, with two almost certainly visible together in one image. A total fleet size has not been disclosed.
Operator: The imagery does not show who is operating the aircraft at East Oweinat.
Contract and value: No contract has been publicly announced by Egypt or Baykar, and no value is known.
Delivery date: No official delivery date has been published.
TB2: Despite the trade-show displays, no public imagery or official confirmation of the TB2 in Egyptian service was found in the reports reviewed.
Talks with Egypt’s Ministry of Military Production: This remains an unverified claim by Tactical Report.

FAQ

Does Egypt operate the Bayraktar Akıncı?

Satellite imagery analysed by Janes and Reuters shows Akıncı aircraft at East Oweinat airbase in southern Egypt. Who operates them has not been confirmed, and no contract has been officially announced.

Has Egypt bought the Bayraktar TB2?

TB2 models were displayed with the Egyptian flag at EDEX 2023. However, no public imagery or official confirmation of the TB2 in Egyptian service was found in the reports reviewed.

What did Türkiye officially say about drones for Egypt?

In February 2024, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Türkiye had an agreement to provide Egypt with UAVs and other technologies. He did not specify a system, quantity or timetable.

Sources

Featured image: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Illustrative photo.