Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has commended Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 drones as a symbol of smart, cost-effective military innovation—contrasting them with the expensive, gold-plated systems often favored by Western air forces.
Speaking on lessons learned from both Turkey’s drone strategy and the ongoing war in Ukraine, Wallace emphasized the need for political leadership to drive meaningful military reform and modernization.
Reflecting on a visit to Turkey well before the war in Ukraine, Wallace recalled being deeply impressed by the Bayraktar TB2’s capabilities. “I was really impressed,” he said. “It’s a lot cheaper and better than the exquisite, gold-plated platforms that our air force always wants to buy. Of course, they weren’t keen—they wanted something immaculate that costs hundreds of millions.”
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Wallace noted a parallel with Turkey’s own military dynamics. Initially, he said, the Turkish Air Force was reluctant to embrace the TB2 drones, preferring traditional fighter jets and large aircraft that showcased air-to-air combat strength.
However, it was the Turkish Army that saw the practical value and adopted the drones—a move that has since proven critical to Turkey’s growing reputation in drone warfare. “The lesson here is clear: real reform in our armed forces often requires political direction,” Wallace argued. “Historically, at least in Britain, our senior military leaders rarely push for deep reform on their own.”
The former defence secretary tied his observations to the evolving nature of modern warfare, highlighting the Ukraine conflict as a turning point. He stressed that regardless of how sophisticated a drone may be, without strong electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, even the most advanced systems are vulnerable.
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“You can have an exquisite drone or a very good drone like the Bayraktar—which is much cheaper—but without electronic warfare or counter-electronic warfare, you won’t get them in the air. They’ll just get knocked out,” he warned. “That’s one of the big lessons from Ukraine.”
Wallace urged Western militaries to prioritize investment in electronic warfare systems alongside hardware purchases. He pointed to defense firms like Leonardo as strong partners in this space, but made clear that unless the UK and its allies catch up in this domain, even their most expensive platforms could end up lost—”falling into the Black Sea,” as he put it.
His remarks serve as a powerful reminder that agility, cost-effectiveness, and technological adaptation—not just legacy prestige—will define military strength in the future.
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