Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar will donate another TB2 to Ukraine after a Polish campaign to raise funds for the aircraft ended in success.
The campaign was initiated by Polish journalist Slawomir Sierakowski and aimed to collect enough money to buy the Turkish-made drone for the Ukrainian armed forces.
On July 24, 2022, the effort crossed the threshold of PLN 22.5 million ($4.8 million), the amount which, according to the organizers, is the minimal cost of the aircraft. Sierakowski published a Facebook post on July 28, revealing that he had received a letter from Baykar and the company would be donating the drone free of charge.
“In light of your campaign, we will provide a Bayraktar TB2 to the people of Ukraine so that they can better protect their homeland,” the letter said, according to Sierakowski.
The journalist also said he would be allocating the collected funds to humanitarian aid.
This is the third time Baykar has donated one of its drones following a successful crowdfunding campaign. Back in May-June 2022, the Turkish company gave a drone free of charge after a Lithuanian campaign managed to raise €5.9 million. The aircraft was transferred to Lithuania in early July, and, according to Lithuanian officials, was later sent to the Ukrainian frontline.
In late June 2022, Ukrainian influencer Serhiy Prytula initiated a campaign that resulted in more than $20 million, leading Baykar to donate three drones in exchange for the funds raised being donated to humanitarian causes.
Since then, citizens from multiple countries, including Norway and Canada, have launched their own campaigns to crowdfund Bayraktar drones and deliver the aircraft to the Ukrainian armed forces.