Early Life
Lütfü Haluk Bayraktar was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 4, 1978. His father, Özdemir Bayraktar, founded Baykar, a company initially focused on automotive parts, which later transitioned into a leading defense and aviation firm. Haluk earned a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU) in 2000 and a Master's degree in the same field from Columbia University in 2002.
Rise to Success
After completing his studies in the United States, Bayraktar returned to Turkey and joined Baykar in 2004. He began as an engineering manager, contributing to the research, development, and production of Turkey's first national and original Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems. He played a crucial role in the product lifecycle, including conceptual design, prototyping, testing, production, and business development. Under his leadership, Baykar has become a world leader in the development of unmanned aerial technologies. Baykar’s export volume reached $1.770 billion in 2023, and the company accounts for 32% of the Turkish defense and aerospace industry's total exports. In 2024, exports rose to $1.8 billion.
Key Business Strategies
Bayraktar's strategic vision has focused on technological sovereignty, achieving a 93% localization rate in its production processes. The company has prioritized self-financed R&D activities and has invested heavily in its projects. Baykar has expanded its reach by exporting UAV systems to over 30 countries, with its most famous export, the Bayraktar drone, being used successfully by Ukrainian troops. He has been involved in every aspect of the business: from engineering to project management to logistics support and business development. The company is also focused on expanding into new regions, including Latin America, the European Union, and NATO countries. Baykar has decided to develop its own engine and plans to spend $300 million on engine production within a 5-year period.
Philanthropy
Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Bayraktar co-founded the Turkey Technology Team (T3) Foundation. This initiative is designed to promote technology education among Turkish youth, encouraging entrepreneurship and providing technology education through various competitions and programs. He is also a founding member and was the chairman of the board for SAHA Istanbul, the Aerospace and Defense Cooperative.
