Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar Sets New Record for 2022 Income Tax
Selçuk Bayraktar: Turkish Pioneer in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Selçuk Bayraktar, born in 1979 in Istanbul-Sarıyer, is the mastermind behind Turkey’s first national S/UAV systems and the country’s first unmanned combat aircraft, Bayraktar KIZILELMA.
After graduating from Robert College in 1997, Bayraktar continued his education in Electronics and Communications Engineering at ITU. He then pursued a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, during which he conducted groundbreaking research on UAV formation flights and robot coordination.
In 2007, Bayraktar returned to Turkey and began leading the development of unmanned aerial vehicle technologies at Baykar. Since 2007, he has served as the Technology Leader (CTO) at Baykar, and as of 2021, he also holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Bayraktar has been instrumental in the development of various UAV systems, including the Bayraktar TB2 S/UAV system and the Bayraktar MINI UAV, which was exported to 32 countries. He also played a key role in developing Turkey’s first Attack UAV system, Bayraktar AKINCI TİHA, and the country’s first flying car prototype, CEZERİ.
In addition to his work in the field of aviation, Bayraktar has led space studies through his technology initiative, Fergani. He has also contributed to the development of domestic ventilators in Turkey and supports health-related projects through the LIFE Foundation, of which he is the founder and chairman of the board of trustees.
Bayraktar’s achievements have been recognized both nationally and internationally. The Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs developed by Baykar were awarded with the Karabakh Order by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in 2021, and he was awarded the Ukrainian State Order of Merit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2022.
His contributions have not gone unnoticed in Africa either, as he was awarded the Mali National Order, the country’s highest decoration, by President Assimi Goita in 2023.
Furthermore, Bayraktar is actively involved in initiatives that support young innovators and organizes training programs through the Turkish Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation), of which he is the chairman of the board of trustees.
In his personal life, Bayraktar is married to Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar and is the father of one child. He also holds a private pilot license.
Selçuk Bayraktar’s innovative work has had a profound impact on the field of aviation and technology, both in Turkey and around the world. As he continues to lead groundbreaking projects, his influence is sure to extend even further in the years to come.
