Austrian Rotax | Suspension of engine supplies for Turkish drones

Defence Redefined

Published on 26/10/2020 at 17:38

Austrian Rotax company suspended the supply of engines used in Turkish UCAVs Bayraktar TB2, STANDARD news agency reported citing the spokesman of Rotax.

“The Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles are used for targeted killings not only in the fight against the PKK and its Syrian militants, but also in the Karabakh conflict,” STANDARD reported.

According to STANDARD, so far Rotax has not felt responsible for the use of its engines, because these devices are originally produced for light and ultralight aircraft and also sold to buyers through international agencies. Turkey was supplied with these engines through Italy.

Rotax says the move is in line with a decision by its parent company Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), which earlier suspended supplies to Turkey over the same issue.

Significant protests took place in both Canada and Austria when it became known that technology produced in Canada and Austria is being used on Turkish drones currently used by Azerbaijan in attacks on Armenian soldiers and civilians.

It is the second company to suspend its exports due to Bayraktar TB2. We remind you that the Canadian company L3Harris Wescam has stopped exporting imaging and targeting systems used in the Bayraktar TB2. 

In addition, Canada announced on October 5 that it would suspend arms exports to Turkey and consider whether the country delivers Canadian military equipment to Azerbaijan.

Also read: Canada | Suspension of arms exports to Turkey