IAI Harop vs Bayraktar TB2
Harop is a loitering weapon expended in attack; TB2 is a reusable armed reconnaissance aircraft carrying separate munitions. Both may contribute to target engagement, but the air vehicles, targeting support and recovery cycle are fundamentally different.
Open these drones in the interactive compare tool
Specifications side by side
| Specification | IAI Harop | Bayraktar TB2 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | IAI | Baykar |
| Country of origin | Israel | Turkey |
| Mission role | Loitering Munition / SEAD | Reconnaissance / Light Attack |
| Year introduced | 2009 | 2014 |
| Length | 2.5 m | 6.5 m |
| Wingspan | 3 m | 12 m |
| Height | 0.5 m | 2.2 m |
| Maximum speed | 417 km/h | 110 KTAS / about 204 km/h (current baseline manufacturer figure) |
| Published range | 1,000 km | Communications and mission dependent; LOS/BLOS configuration varies |
| Endurance | 6 hours | 18+ hours listed; 27 h 3 min record (manufacturer) |
| Service ceiling | 4,572 m | 20,000 ft / about 6,100 m (baseline); turbo test records differ |
| Payload | 23 kg warhead | 150 kg (current baseline manufacturer figure) |
| Weight | 135 kg | 700 kg MTOW (current baseline manufacturer figure) |
| Armament | 23 kg anti-radiation warhead (integral) | MAM-L, MAM-C smart munitions, LUMTAS |
Figures below come from the linked DroneStrike profiles and retain their configuration qualifiers. Maximum speed, range, endurance and payload are separate published figures, not a single achievable mission configuration. Range is not necessarily combat radius or datalink reach. Missing information is not zero, and a larger figure does not establish combat effectiveness.
The comparison that matters
Compare the effect required rather than matching payload columns without context. A TB2 can perform surveillance and return if the mission allows; a Harop engagement expends the weapon. Target identification, operator supervision and the fitted mission systems must be established separately for each.
Understanding IAI Harop
Harop is a loitering weapon associated with operator-supervised target engagement and suppression missions. Its targeting concept is different from assuming a pre-planned long-range one-way strike against a fixed coordinate.
A loitering munition's seeker, control link and abort options require model-specific evidence rather than a blanket kamikaze-drone label.
Understanding Bayraktar TB2
TB2 combines reusable reconnaissance with light precision attack. Its relatively small weapons and sensor allowance places it in a different class from heavy armed UAVs even when both are described as combat drones.
Keep baseline TB2 data separate from TB2T-AI test records, record-setting flights and customer-specific communications configurations.
How to read the specification table
The table compares the named IAI Harop and Bayraktar TB2 catalog records, not an artificial combination of every advertised upgrade. Values are reproduced with their existing units and qualifications. Where figures describe different missions or payload types, treat them as context rather than calculating an unsupported performance advantage.
A published maximum is not necessarily achievable alongside every other maximum. Endurance may change with equipment, flight or sea conditions and transit requirements; a range figure may describe a different constraint from datalink reach. Unknown specifications remain unknown. For development programs and limited-disclosure systems, an intended capability must stay distinct from a completed trial or operational service.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between IAI Harop and Bayraktar TB2?
Harop is a loitering weapon expended in attack; TB2 is a reusable armed reconnaissance aircraft carrying separate munitions. Both may contribute to target engagement, but the air vehicles, targeting support and recovery cycle are fundamentally different.
Can the headline specifications establish a winner?
No. The mission, actual configuration, supported force and quality of evidence determine what the figures mean. Maximum speed, endurance and payload alone do not establish combat effectiveness, survivability or equal intelligence collection.
Where can I verify the versions and figures used here?
Follow the IAI Harop and Bayraktar TB2 profile links for full descriptions, timelines and any listed source references. This guide preserves the catalog's uncertainty labels rather than presenting unpublished or weakly sourced figures as independently verified facts.
Sources and further reading
- IAI Harop: full catalog profile, timeline and source notes
- Bayraktar TB2: full catalog profile, timeline and source notes
Specifications are drawn from the linked catalog profiles. Source dates and aircraft configurations may differ; see the individual profiles for their timelines and qualifications.