Bayraktar TB3 achieves 100 shipborne sorties on TCG Anadolu

The Turkish-developed Bayraktar TB3 UCAV has marked a critical milestone in naval aviation history, completing its 100th successful sortie from the deck of the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu. Developed by Baykar, the TB3 is the world’s first combat drone capable of fully autonomous takeoff and landing from short-runway naval vessels, establishing a new operational standard for shipborne unmanned systems.

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09 june 2025   |   07:15   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. Baykar

AI-driven autonomy at sea

Between May 28 and June 2, 2025, the latest test campaign focused on demonstrating the TB3’s advanced vision-based, AI-assisted autonomous landing and takeoff systems. Capabilities such as visual line tracking, ship deck recognition, runway alignment, and landing trajectory estimation were successfully validated in real maritime conditions. Following the tests, aircraft PT-3 and PT-4 returned from the Aksaz region to Baykar’s Flight Training and Test Center in Keşan.

Expanding operational envelope

The Bayraktar TB3 has now accumulated 1,167 flight hours and 8 minutes across 709 test sorties, including 101 sorties from naval platforms. A long-endurance flight conducted on December 20, 2023, demonstrated the system’s range and persistence, with a 32-hour continuous mission covering 5,700 km.

Live fire: dual strikes and supersonic capability

During the Seawolf-2025 exercise on May 14, 2025, TB3 UCAVs carried out coordinated dual salvo strikes against land targets using MAM-L smart munitions from Roketsan, launched sequentially from TCG Anadolu. These strikes were preceded by extensive live-fire trials held between April 22–25 and a successful MAM-L test firing using the ASELFLIR-500 and Aselsan CATS EO/IR systems on May 11.

Notably, on March 25 and 27, 2025, Bayraktar TB3 executed precision strikes against maritime targets using the Roketsan UAV-122 supersonic missile, achieving direct hits. The missions featured coordinated target designation by a Bayraktar TB2 UCAV, proving the capability of cross-platform cooperation between multiple unmanned systems. Additional successful weapon integrations include MAM-T and MAM-L munitions.

Naval force multiplier

Equipped with a folding-wing design, beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communications, and smart weapon integration, the TB3 is optimized for deployment aboard light aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. Its ability to conduct ISR and precision strike missions over extended ranges positions it as a strategic naval force multiplier. The platform is powered by the indigenous TEI-developed PD-170 turbodiesel engine, having achieved an altitude of 36,310 feet during a high-altitude flight on June 25, 2024.

Global impact and export success

As a privately funded venture, Baykar has relied exclusively on internal resources for its UAV development programs since 2003. In 2023, 83% of the company’s revenue came from exports, totaling $1.8 billion. The firm maintained this figure in 2024, increasing the export share to 90% of its total turnover.

Baykar is currently the largest UCAV exporter worldwide, with export agreements signed with 36 countries – including 35 for the Bayraktar TB2 and 15 for the Bayraktar Akıncı. The company led Turkey’s defense and aerospace exports in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, accounting for 25% of total national sector exports last year alone.

Bayraktar TB3 is redefining the operational potential of unmanned systems at sea. With fully autonomous launch-and-recovery capabilities from naval platforms, precision strike competence, and long-range mission endurance, the TB3 represents a significant leap forward in maritime unmanned air operations — reinforcing Türkiye’s growing role as a leader in naval UAV innovation.

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Bayraktar TB3 Bayraktar TCG Anadolu tureckie drony bojowe Baykar

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