Bayraktar TB3

The Bayraktar TB3 is a carrier-capable unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by Turkey's Baykar for short-runway ship operations, primarily to enable naval aviation from vessels like TCG Anadolu, providing surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strikes with munitions such as MAM-L and MAM-T. As of February 2026, the program has reached an advanced operational stage, with three TB3 UCAVs demonstrating autonomous takeoffs, landings, and live-fire dual-salvo strikes during NATO's Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise in the Baltic Sea under harsh cold-weather conditions, marking its first overseas operational debut. From a defense-intelligence perspective, it holds strategic significance by pioneering unmanned naval warfare concepts, integrating with swarm tactics and multi-domain operations to extend strike envelopes, reduce manned risks, and position Turkey as a leader in affordable carrier-based drone capabilities amid its pivot from F-35 plans.