Haluk Bayraktar (born 4 October 1978) is a Turkish engineer and executive. He is the CEO of Baykar, TUBITAK Board Member and founder and chairman of the board of Turkey Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation) and SAHA Istanbul.[1][2][3][4][5] He is a pioneer of Turkey for autonomous technology efforts which reshaped battlefields and geopolitics which resulted with a change of future warfare doctrines.[6][7]

Haluk Bayraktar
Born (1978-10-04) 4 October 1978 (age 46)
EducationMiddle East Technical University
Columbia University
Occupation(s)Businessman · Engineer
Known forBaykar
T3 Foundation
SAHA İstanbul
TÜBİTAK
FamilySelçuk Bayraktar (brother)
Awards

Life

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Haluk Bayraktars father is Özdemir Bayraktar, the founder of Baykar. His brother Selçuk Bayraktar also works for Baykar.

Haluk Bayraktar is the CEO of Baykar, Turkey’s premiere autonomous technology company. Haluk began his tenure at Baykar in 2004 as an engineering manager when Baykar’s autonomous technology efforts were still nascent. He has since been involved in every aspect of the business from engineering to project management to logistics support and business development.[8]

Haluk is also one of the founders of the Turkey Technology Team (T3) Foundation, an initiative intended to foster technology education among Turkish youth through entrepreneurship, competitions, and supplementary technology education.[9][10][11]

Additionally, Haluk was one of the founders and chairman of the board of Turkey’s Aerospace and Defense Cooperative (SAHA Istanbul), which includes over 600 companies and 16 universities.

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, he turned his company's engineering expertise to rapidly develop intensive health care ventilators and supported mass serial production.[12]

During 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, he took a clear stance with Ukraine when pressed by CNN presenter Julia Chatterley, who repeatedly asked, “Would you supply Russia?”, Bayraktar responded: “We have not delivered or supplied them with anything, [and] we will as well never do such a thing because we support Ukraine, support its sovereignty, its resistance for its independence.”[1][2]

Bayraktar said he is proud that Bayraktar TB2 has become one of the symbols of the Ukrainian resistance against Russia.[3]

In 2021 and 2022, Haluk Bayraktar is known as the second-highest income taxpayer in Turkey.[4][5]

Honours and medals

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– Haluk was awarded an Order of Merit of 1st Degree of Ukraine by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his service to for significant personal merits in strengthening interstate cooperation, support of state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, significant contribution to the popularization of the Ukrainian state in the world on 29 August 2022.[6]

– Haluk was awarded with an Order of Merit of Ukraine at the Presidential Palace in Kyiv by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his service to Ukraine and Ukraine-Turkey relations on 25 August 2020.[13]

– Bayraktar was awarded this high award for his contribution to strengthening fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, developing of cooperation, ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan.[14]

– Malian President Assimi Goita awarded Turkish drone magnate Baykar’s general manager, Haluk Bayaraktar, and chief technology officer Selçuk Bayraktar along with other two members of their team the country’s “National Order” for their contributions and services to Mali.[15]

– The Ordre de L'etalon Officier medal, the country's highest national honour, by the order of Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traore for his outstanding and exceptional contributions to the West African nation’s peace, security and counter-terrorism activities.[16]

– On 29 October 2023, the State Order of Daneker was awarded to Haluk Bayraktar, the CEO of Baykar, by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadır Caparov, in recognition of the support provided to the security and technology of the Kyrgyz Republic through Turkey's indigenous and national UAVs, Bayraktar TB2 and Bayraktar AKINCI.[17]

– Haluk Bayraktar was awarded the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Republic Honor Medal on 16 December 2023, for his valuable contributions to enhancing and developing the national and air force capabilities of Ethiopia. The medal was presented to Bayraktar during a ceremony in Addis Ababa, as part of the 88th anniversary celebrations of the Ethiopian Air Force, in the presence of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, by Chief of General Staff Marshal Birhanu Jula and Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Yilma Merdasa.[18]

– Haluk Bayraktar became the first civilian to receive the Medal of Superior Service, Kosovo’s highest military honor, from Kosovar Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci on 6 November 2023.[19]

– Medal for assistance in the protection of the state border by Ukraine State Border Control.

– Ukraine Airforce Medal for skill, honor, and courage by the Ukrainian Air Force Command.

– On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the state company Antonov Aircraft Factory (Ukraine), the Antonov medal was presented for its contributions to the aviation industry.

– The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine awarded the “Star of Military Brotherhood” medal to Haluk Bayraktar. The medals were presented by Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleschuk, a war hero and commander of the Ukraine’s Air Force, at a Ukrainian military base on 2 February 2024.[20]

Ribbon bar Award or decoration Country Date Place Note Ref.
  Order of Merit of Ukraine (1st Degree)   Ukraine 29 August 2022 Kyiv Haluk was awarded an Order of Merit of 1st Degree of Ukraine by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his service to for significant personal merits in strengthening interstate cooperation, support of state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, significant contribution to the popularization of the Ukrainian state in the world [7]
  Order of Merit of Ukraine (3rd Degree)   Ukraine 25 August 2020 Kyiv Haluk was awarded with an Order of Merit of Ukraine at the Presidential Palace in Kyiv by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his service to Ukraine and Ukraine-Turkey relations [21][22][13]
  Karabakh Order   Azerbaijan 15 June 2021 Shusha Bayraktar was awarded this high award for his contribution to strengthening fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, developing of cooperation, ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan [23][14]
 
National Order of Mali   Mali 19 October 2023 Bamako Malian President Assimi Goita awarded Turkish drone magnate Baykar’s general manager, Haluk Bayaraktar, and chief technology officer Selçuk Bayraktar along with other two members of their team the country’s “National Order” for their contributions and services to Mali. [15]
 
Ordre de L'etalon Officier of Burkina Faso   Burkina Faso 25 April 2023 Ouagadougou The Ordre de L'etalon Officier medal, the country's highest national honour, by the order of Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traore for his outstanding and exceptional contributions to the West African nation’s peace, security and counter-terrorism activities. [16]
 
Medal of the Order of Danaker   Kyrgyzstan 28 October 2023 Bishkek On 29 October 2023, the State Order of Daneker was awarded to Haluk Bayraktar, the CEO of Baykar, by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadır Caparov, in recognition of the support provided to the security and technology of the Kyrgyz Republic through Turkey's indigenous and national UAVs, Bayraktar TB2 and Bayraktar AKINCI [17]
Distinguished Service Medal   Republic of Kosovo 6 November 2023 Pristina Awarded with distinguished Service Medal for the dedication and contribution given to the development of the strategic defense capacities of the Republic of Kosovo on 6 November 2023. [24]
Ukraine State Border Control Service Medal   Ukraine 1 September 2023 Kyiv Medal for assistance in the protection of the state border [25]
Ukraine Airforce   Ukraine 6 April 2023 Kyiv Medal for skill, honor, and courage by the Ukrainian Air Force Command. [26]
State Enterprise Antonov   Ukraine 14 September 2021 Kyiv On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the state company Antonov Aircraft Factory (Ukraine), the Antonov medal was presented for its contributions to the aviation industry [27]
Ministry of Defense, Ukraine   Ukraine 2 February 2024 Vinnitsa The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine awarded the “Star of Military Brotherhood” medal to Haluk Bayraktar. The medals were presented by Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleschuk, a war hero and commander of the Ukraine’s Air Force, at a Ukrainian military base on 2 February 2024. [28]
 
25 August 2020, President Zelensky awards
 
15 June 2021
 
Malian President Assimi Goita awarded Turkish drone magnate Baykar’s general manager, Haluk Bayaraktar, and chief technology officer Selçuk Bayraktar along with other two members of their team the country’s “National Order” for their contributions and services to Mali.
 
The chief executive officer of Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar has been awarded a state medal in Burkina Faso, where the company's Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been exported.
 
State Order of Daneker was awarded to Haluk Bayraktar, the CEO of Baykar, by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadır Caparov

References

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  1. ^ "Haluk BAYRAKTAR" (PDF). tubitak.gov.tr. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Arşivlenmiş kopya". Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Arşivlenmiş kopya". Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  4. ^ "SSB – TÜRK SAVUNMA SANAYİİ ÜRÜN KATALOĞU". www.ssb.gov.tr.
  5. ^ "YÖNETİM KURULU BAŞKANI Haluk BAYRAKTAR – SAHA İstanbul". YÖNETİM KURULU BAŞKANI Haluk BAYRAKTAR – SAHA İstanbul (in Turkish). Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  6. ^ Washington, James Marson in Istanbul and Brett Forrest in (3 June 2021). "Armed Low-Cost Drones, Made by Turkey, Reshape Battlefields and Geopolitics". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  7. ^ Axe, David. "Behold The Turkish Navy's Drone Aircraft Carrier". Forbes. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  8. ^ "İşte ilk Türk insansız hava aracını yapan üç kardeş". 30 May 2010. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Ekibimiz". Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  10. ^ "DENE-YAP TEKNOLOJİ ATÖLYELERİ'NDE PROJELER YARIŞTI". www.ibb.istanbul. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Arşivlenmiş kopya". Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  12. ^ Atherton, Kelsey D. "Drone Maker Creates Ventilators For The War On Coronavirus". Forbes. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Baykar Genel Müdürü Bayraktar: Ukrayna devleti tarafından üstün hizmet nişanına layık görüldüğüm için onur duydum". www.aa.com.tr.
  14. ^ a b "Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev awarded Haluk Bayraktar with "Karabakh" order". Apa.az. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  15. ^ a b AA, Daily Sabah with (19 October 2023). "Malian president awards Turkish drone innovators with 'National Order'". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Burkina Faso awards highest state medal to head of Turkish drone manufacturer – TRT Afrika". Burkina Faso awards highest state medal to head of Turkish drone manufacturer. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Kırgızistan, Türkiye'den Aksungur ve Akıncı SİHA'ları satın aldı". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Baykar Genel Müdürü Haluk Bayraktar'a Etiyopya'dan Onur Madalyası". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  19. ^ Naim (6 November 2023). "Ministri Maqedonci dekoron drejtorin e "Bayraktarit"". Paparaci. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Командувач Повітряних сил зустрівся з директором Baykar". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  21. ^ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №341/2020". Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України.
  22. ^ "Зеленський нагородив директора Baykar Makina Халука Байрактара державним орденом | Defense Express". defence-ua.com.
  23. ^ "Aliyev'den Haluk Bayraktar'a Karabağ Nişanı". Daily Sabah. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Baykar Genel Müdürü Haluk Bayraktar'a, Kosova'da üstün hizmet madalyası verildi". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Mali'de Selçuk Bayraktar ve Haluk Bayraktar'a "Ulusal Nişan" verildi". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Baykar Genel Müdürü Haluk Bayraktar'a, Burkina Faso'da devlet nişanı verildi". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  27. ^ "Baykar Genel Müdürü Haluk Bayraktar'a, Burkina Faso'da devlet nişanı verildi". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Командувач Повітряних сил зустрівся з директором Baykar". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 February 2024.