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Türkiye is the largest contributor to NATO's Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise, with the Bayraktar TB3 armed drone demonstrating "extremely successful" performance, NATO's Joint Force Command Brunssum spokesperson said.
"Türkiye is the country that has contributed the most to this exercise. Therefore, the main forces, the majority of the units, come from Türkiye," German Colonel Matthias Boehnke told state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) during the distinguished visitors day at the Baltic Sea coastal training area in Putlos.
Steadfast Dart 2026 is NATO's largest exercise this year, organized by JFC Brunssum in the Netherlands and hosted by Germany.
Boehnke highlighted TCG Anadolu's unprecedented deployment far from Turkish waters.
"Among the elements we saw today is the large ship right behind me. This ship is Anadolu. I believe this is the first mission where Anadolu has left the Mediterranean, that is, to the Baltic Sea," Boehnke said.
The spokesperson noted that the day's activities featured an amphibious landing operation with units from Spain and predominantly from Türkiye.
"The contribution is really enormous," he said.
Boehnke emphasized the importance of the Bayraktar TB3's capabilities operating from TCG Anadolu, marking the armed drone's first appearance on the international stage.
"I think the performance of the TB3 has been extremely successful. UAVs, meaning drones as we say, are on everyone's lips today. Everyone is talking about this and this topic is very important," Boehnke said.
"It is important for saving lives, it is important for reconnaissance, it is important for modern warfare. From this perspective, the contribution of TCG Anadolu has provided a great benefit to the exercise," he noted.
Addressing reports about Ukrainian participation, Boehnke clarified that Ukrainian soldiers are not part of the exercise forces.
"This is entirely within the framework of the Allied Reaction Force. This force consists mainly of Turkish, Italian and Spanish units, but Ukrainian soldiers are not included," he said.
However, Ukrainian soldiers have been invited to share their experience in modern warfare during static and dynamic demonstrations.
"In this context, Ukrainian soldiers have been invited to show their experience in modern warfare, their experience in drone warfare, how to combat drone attacks and how drones are used for offensive purposes," Boehnke explained.
The Turkish Armed Forces 66th Mechanized Infantry Brigade undertook significant roles in the land phase, participating with an artillery battery, combat engineer direct support and a field company.
The 66th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, serving within NATO's Allied Reaction Force, carried out coordinated operations with Italian mechanized units to liberate an enemy-controlled area and ensure its security according to the exercise scenario.
Land forces from more than 10 allied countries, including Türkiye, Spain, Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic, carried out live-fire exercises from air and land, along with scenarios involving the seizure of territory and securing the area.
Türkiye also showcased domestically developed systems currently in use by the Turkish Army, including:
The exercise continues with land forces from NATO allies demonstrating interoperability and combined defense capabilities.
Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), which continues to develop and employ new technologies, exhibited the ASLAN unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) during exercise Steadfast Dart 2026 underway in northern Germany.
The Turkish 66th Mechanized Brigade has been using the ASLAN UGV for three years.
During the exercise, they utilised a UGV during land activities and demonstrations, highlighting its critical importance in the field.
The ASLAN is an armed UGV developed by Turkish defense giant Aselsan for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
Featuring a modular architecture, the platform can be equipped with electro-optical sensors, thermal cameras and remote-controlled, stabilized weapon systems. It also has semi-autonomous operation capabilities.
Its quiet mobility, low silhouette, and modular payload options enable adaptation to a wide range of mission profiles. With these capabilities, ASLAN represents a modern unmanned ground system that delivers flexibility, operational persistence, and risk reduction on the battlefield.
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