The Bayraktar TB-3 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), deployed aboard the Turkish Navy’s amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, conducted its first operational takeoff from the vessel during the NATO Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise, successfully striking a maritime target.
During the drill, the TB-3 engaged and destroyed the designated sea target using two MAM-L precision-guided munitions. The aircraft subsequently returned and landed safely on TCG Anadolu, completing the sortie without incident.
The event marks a significant milestone for the Turkish Naval Forces, demonstrating shipborne unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) capability within a NATO operational framework. It also underscores Türkiye’s expanding capacity for maritime power projection and advanced UAV integration at sea.
Defense analysts view the successful strike as a practical validation of Türkiye’s concept of operating armed unmanned systems from naval platforms — a capability increasingly relevant in contested maritime environments.
