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The Turkish Navy deployed Bayraktar TB3 armed drones in a NATO exercise for the first time during Steadfast Dart 2026, marking what commanders described as a "new doctrine for amphibious operations within the alliance."
"This is the first time we are using TB3s in a NATO exercise. We are also using TB3s in an amphibious operation for the first time. This is a new doctrine for NATO as well," Turkish Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercument Tatlioglu told reporters aboard TCG Anadolu in the Baltic Sea on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
"This is the first amphibious operation we have conducted using UAVs within NATO," he noted.
The TB3 drone, operating from the short deck of TCG Anadolu, also successfully struck surface targets with dual salvo MAM-L munitions during live-fire exercises, completing its first operational demonstration abroad.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart praised Türkiye's contributions to the alliance on the 74th anniversary of the country's membership.
"Türkiye is a steadfast ally of the Alliance and a country that makes valuable contributions to our common security," Hart said in a written statement to state-run Anadolu Agency (AA).
Hart noted that the next NATO Summit will be held in Ankara in July and highlighted that Türkiye has NATO's second-largest military.
"With its consistent investments in defense, strong defense industry and regular contributions to NATO missions, activities and exercises, Türkiye is a steadfast ally of the Alliance," Hart said.
Türkiye formally joined NATO on Feb. 18, 1952.
Tatlioglu stated that 11 NATO countries are participating in Steadfast Dart 2026, NATO's largest and most comprehensive exercise this year.
"We are participating as the Anadolu Turkish Naval Task Force with our multipurpose amphibious ship TCG Anadolu, combat support ship TCG Derya for at-sea replenishment, our first nationally designed and built frigate TCG Istanbul, and our frigate TCG Orucreis, which underwent mid-life modernization with national capabilities," he said.
The Turkish contribution also includes an amphibious marine battalion, armored amphibious assault vehicles capable of operating on land and sea, underwater assault and defense commandos, helicopters, unmanned surface vessels, and three Bayraktar TB3 armed drones.
The admiral highlighted two significant aspects of Turkish participation.
"First is the demonstration of the Turkish Naval Forces' power projection capability," Tatlioglu said, noting that marine forces and amphibious capabilities were transported more than 8,000 kilometers aboard TCG Anadolu.
On Feb. 15, TB3 drone autonomously took off from TCG Anadolu's short runway and destroyed designated surface targets with pinpoint accuracy using dual salvo MAM-L missiles.
"Soldiers from participating countries gave full marks to the successful strikes by the national drone against naval targets," Baykar said in a statement.
The TB3 is the world's first armed drone capable of conducting operations from short-deck ships.
In the coming days, two TB3 drones are planned to take off consecutively from TCG Anadolu for a coordinated operation, with one conducting dual-salvo MAM-L strikes while the other fires MAM-T munitions with greater destructive power.
A special flight demonstration for NATO's senior command staff is planned during the Distinguished Visitors Day, with long-range flight missions also among possible scenarios.
Turkish Naval Forces Commander also emphasized that the Turkish Navy operates worldwide, not just in the Baltic Sea.
"The Anadolu Turkish Naval Task Force is in the Baltic Sea, the Somalia Turkish Naval Task Force is conducting exercises in the Indian Ocean. Our ships are operating in the Persian Gulf, west of Lebanon and north of Libya," he noted.
"We are also conducting training with the Italians in the Adriatic Sea as of today (Feb. 17)," Tatlioglu said.
Stressing that Türkiye's geostrategic position as a country surrounded by seas on three sides requires a strong navy, Tatlioglu said: "We are a very strong naval force."
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