Everyone sells the drones separate from the infrastructure needed to run them, the weapons systems that go on them, and the various sensor packages. For instance the price of the Bayraktar TB-2 done alone will vary from under $1,000,000 to over $7,000,000 depending on what goodies are ordered for the drone itself. Then Turkey charges an additional $1,000,000 or more for each operators station the buyer wants plus training costs for the operators themselves.
The reason that stuff is priced and sold separately is because not all buyers need it. Ukraine for instance needs constant replenishment of the drones themselves but they already have the operators stations and operators so they don’t need to buy those or have Turkey train people on their use. They’ve also got a certain amount of the munitions to put on the TB-2 so they may or may not need any of that at the time of purchase.
Think of it like an F-16. Sure you can buy one for $10,000,000 or whatever but if it’s your first plane you now need a runway, a hanger, a fuel truck, fuel storage, at least one pilot, and at least one mechanic before you can actually use it! Now if you want to fly it in a warzone you’ll need ammunition for its gun, missiles or bombs, along with the various targeting systems those weapons requires.
So when you say “just infra” you are handwaving what is often the most expensive part, especially for new customers.
Sounds like a waste of money when civilian drones from China have been so useful and require little to no training… And are less vulnerable to AA systems.
Everyone sells the drones separate from the infrastructure needed to run them, the weapons systems that go on them, and the various sensor packages. For instance the price of the Bayraktar TB-2 done alone will vary from under $1,000,000 to over $7,000,000 depending on what goodies are ordered for the drone itself. Then Turkey charges an additional $1,000,000 or more for each operators station the buyer wants plus training costs for the operators themselves.
The reason that stuff is priced and sold separately is because not all buyers need it. Ukraine for instance needs constant replenishment of the drones themselves but they already have the operators stations and operators so they don’t need to buy those or have Turkey train people on their use. They’ve also got a certain amount of the munitions to put on the TB-2 so they may or may not need any of that at the time of purchase.
Think of it like an F-16. Sure you can buy one for $10,000,000 or whatever but if it’s your first plane you now need a runway, a hanger, a fuel truck, fuel storage, at least one pilot, and at least one mechanic before you can actually use it! Now if you want to fly it in a warzone you’ll need ammunition for its gun, missiles or bombs, along with the various targeting systems those weapons requires.
So when you say “just infra” you are handwaving what is often the most expensive part, especially for new customers.
Sounds like a waste of money when civilian drones from China have been so useful and require little to no training… And are less vulnerable to AA systems.