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Bayraktar TB3, Türkiye’s domestically developed unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), has reached another major milestone. The drone was successfully controlled from the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu via data link, Baykar Chairman Selcuk Bayraktar announced Thursday on social media.
TB3 made history on Nov. 19, 2024, by completing its first flight from the deck of the TCG Anadolu while the ship was operating off the coast of Aksaz, Mugla. Additional flight tests on Nov. 26 confirmed its capability to launch and land from sea-based platforms—a world first in its class.
During weapons trials on March 25 and March 27, TB3 struck sea-based targets with the domestically developed Roketsan IHA-122 supersonic missile. On March 27, the UCAV hit a 6x6 meter floating target while flying below line-of-sight altitude. The target was laser-designated by a Bayraktar TB2, successfully demonstrating coordinated multi-platform engagement.
On June 25, 2024, TB3 climbed to an altitude of 36,310 feet during a flight from Baykar’s test center in Kesan, Edirne, powered by the indigenous TEI PD-170 engine. While short of the national record—45,118 feet, held by the Bayraktar Akinci—it marks a significant step in Türkiye’s UAV development.
Equipped with foldable wings and beyond-line-of-sight communication capabilities, Bayraktar TB3 is set to become a leader in its class.
Its extended operational range and smart munition payload will allow Türkiye to conduct surveillance and strike missions against distant targets, offering a significant force multiplier for naval operations.
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