YIHA-III

Last updated
YIHA-III
General information
Type UAV
Role Loitering munition
National originFlag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Manufacturer Baykar
StatusIn service
Primary usersFlag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
Number builtUnknown
History
In serviceSince 2023

The YIHA-III is a Turkish-Pakistani high-precision unmanned aerial vehicle and loitering munition developed jointly by Baykar and NASTP. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Overview

The existence of the YIHA-III was first unveiled in 2023 during a visit by the Commander of the Turkish Air Force at the NASTP Alpha facility in Rawalpindi. However, scarce public information was available on it. [4] The drone eventually came into public view in early 2024 after reports emerged of "mystery drones" which were sighted striking Russian military infrastructure in Belgorod during the war in Ukraine. [5] The YIHA features an UMTAS ATGM warhead fitted to a tubular body with a fixed tricycle style landing gear which enables it to launch from a runway as well as a catapult system. After launch, the drone can loiter in the air, detecting a target, and then attack it from the air with a vertical dive. The drone can also be used in swarm mode. [6]

Combat use

Russo-Ukraine war

In February 2024, reports emerged of a "mystery drone" used by Ukrainian forces to strike targets inside the Russian city of Belgorod, which is approximately 40km from the Ukrainian border. Further analysis of pictures of the drone's debris later revealed it was a YIHA-III. [2] [1]

Syrian civil war

The Turkish military has utilized the YIHA drone against High-value targets during operations in Northern Syria. [1]

Pakistan

The YIHA drones in service with the Pakistan Air Force have been deployed in anti-terrorist operations. In 2024, the Pakistan Armed Forces carried out Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar in which they targeted terrorist hideouts located in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan Province. [1]

In May 2025, many YIHA drones were deployed against various Indian military targets both in Indian Administered Kashmir and mainland India as part of Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos. According to Indian Army officials, more than 400 Byker YIHA-III kamikaze drones were detected, tracked, and shot down. [7]

Operators

Alleged users

Specifications

General characteristics

PerformanceArmament

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Albanian Air Force Deploys Combat-Proven YIHA-III Kamikaze Drones". Global Defense Insight. 2025-03-19.
  2. 1 2 3 Sapwood, Olivia (2024-02-11). "Unidentified drone discovered in the Belgorod region". Militarnyi.
  3. "Swarm & Strike: How Pakistan's Drone Superiority 'Tested' Indian Defenses & Questioned India's Very Capable AD Systems: OPED". Eurasian Times. 2025-05-11.
  4. "The Mysterious UAVs at PAF's Photo". TurDef. 2024-01-02.
  5. Русанов, Андрей (2024-02-12). "Таинственный беспилотник NASTP YX нашли на Белгородщине: эксперт раскрыл, откуда он взялся" (in Ukrainian).
  6. Malyasov, Dylan (2025-05-10). "India recovers Turkish-linked kamikaze drone wreckage".
  7. "Byker YIHA III Kamikaze drones neutralised by Army Air Defence". The Hindu. 2025-05-10.
  8. "Aircraft | Drones" . Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  9. 1 2 Sapwood, Olivia (2025-03-24). "Albania Receives Unknown Strike Drones Previously Used in Ukraine". Militarnyi.
  10. "Pakistan Air Force Officially Commissions New Combat Drones". Global Defense Insight. 2024-01-02.
  11. "Induction and Operationalization Ceremony Held at Operational Air Base of Pakistan Air Force". We News English. 2024-01-02.
  12. "Armed forces fully prepared to thwart any aggression: COAS". E Tribune. 2024-01-02.