YIHA-III
Loitering munition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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