New equipment breaks cover at Turkmen military parade

12th October 2021 - 15:06 GMT | by Alexander Mladenov, Krassimir Grozev in Sofia

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Bayraktar TB2s displayed in a major parade in Ashgabat were equipped with Roketsan MAM weapons and an unidentified EO/IR turret. (Image: Turkmenistan state TV)

Anniversary parade and flypast provides new sightings of UAS, armoured vehicles and fixed-wing manned aircraft from diverse sources as Ashgabat forges ahead with plans to replace Soviet-era equipment.

A lavish military parade in Ashgabat, held to mark the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence, saw a large number of newly procured weapons and defence equipment on display.

The 27 September event was attended by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, and provided a rare opportunity to observe new systems in the country’s arsenal.

Among these were a trio of Bayraktar TB2 armed drones wearing Turkmen military insignia. The Turkish-made UAS were displayed with Roketsan's MAM series of guided munitions on the underwing pylons. Their EO/IR payload, however, was not the Canadian-made Wescam MX-15 used on TB2s operated by all previous customers; the turret resembles the Hensoldt ARGOS- …