YIHA-III
| YIHA-III | |
|---|---|
| YIHA-III at the Kuçovë Air Base in Albania. | |
| General information | |
| Type | UAV |
| Role | Loitering munition |
| National origin | Turkey Pakistan |
| Manufacturer | Baykar NASTP |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | Turkey Pakistan |
| Number built | Unknown |
| History | |
| In service | Since 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]
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 Balochistan and Khyber Paktunkhwa. 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 in combat missions against various Indian military targets both in Indian Administered Kashmir and mainland India as part of Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos.[7]
In February and March 2026, YIHA-III loitering munitions were deployed against military bases of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan during Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq.[8]
Operators
- Pakistan: Locally manufactures the drone. Operationalized with the airforce in early 2024 at PAF Base Murid.[9][10][11]
- Albania: In October 2024, Albania’s PM Edi Rama said Turkey would donate kamikaze drones, emphasizing Albania would not use them to attack. In March 2025, the Albanian Air Force began operating the Byker YIHA-III, first deployed at Kuçovë.[12][13]
- Turkey
- Ukraine: Unknown units acquired in early 2024.[2]
- Sudan: Unknown units were provided by Turkey.[14]
Alleged users
Specifications
General characteristics
- Powerplant: 1 × DLE-170 Internal Combustion Engine
Performance
Armament
- 1 × 35 kg OMTAS high-explosive warhead
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Albanian Air Force Deploys Combat-Proven YIHA-III Kamikaze Drones". Global Defense Insight. 2025-03-19.
- ^ a b c Sapwood, Olivia (2024-02-11). "Unidentified drone discovered in the Belgorod region". Militarnyi.
- ^ "Swarm & Strike: How Pakistan's Drone Superiority 'Tested' Indian Defenses & Questioned India's Very Capable AD Systems: OPED". Eurasian Times. 2025-05-11.
- ^ "The Mysterious UAVs at PAF's Photo". TurDef. 2024-01-02.
- ^ Русанов, Андрей (2024-02-12). "Таинственный беспилотник NASTP YX нашли на Белгородщине: эксперт раскрыл, откуда он взялся" (in Ukrainian).
- ^ Malyasov, Dylan (2025-05-10). "India recovers Turkish-linked kamikaze drone wreckage".
- ^ "Pakistan-Turkey Jointly Developed YIHA-III Kamikaze Drones Showcase Strengthening Defence Ties". Times of Islamabad. 2025-08-14.
- ^ Anderson (@AndErson224088) (March 2, 2026). "Report on the use of YIHA-III drones in Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved March 2, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Pakistan Air Force Officially Commissions New Combat Drones". Global Defense Insight. 2024-01-02.
- ^ "Induction and Operationalization Ceremony Held at Operational Air Base of Pakistan Air Force". We News English. 2024-01-02.
- ^ "Armed forces fully prepared to thwart any aggression: COAS". E Tribune. 2024-01-02.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Vcard. "The Sudan War Enters a New Phase: Implications for Global Security". Steptoe. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ Sapwood, Olivia (2025-03-24). "Albania Receives Unknown Strike Drones Previously Used in Ukraine". Militarnyi.