Bayraktar TB3 drones shine in DENİZKURDU-II/2025 exercise

The DENİZKURDU-II/2025 Exercise conducted by the Turkish Navy in the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, and Eastern Mediterranean has completed its Distinguished Observer Day activities. During the Distinguished Observer Day, the Turkish Navy Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, the Turkish Land Forces Commander General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, the Turkish Air Force Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, the President of the Presidency of Defense Industry Haluk Görgün, ASELSAN General Manager Ahmet Akyol, and Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar followed the exercise from the TCG Anadolu ship. The exercise, part of the Turkish Navy's 2025 planning, began on May 6. It involved 120 ships, 85 aircraft, 1 SAT (Underwater Attack Team) and 2 SAS (Underwater Defense Teams), along with units from the Turkish Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Coast Guard, and public institutions, operating in the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, and Eastern Mediterranean. The exercise aimed to assess the operational command and control effectiveness of the naval commands, as well as to improve the decision-making capabilities of the staff and participants in multi-threat environments. The exercise included 104 surface ships, 6 submarines, 7 unmanned sea vehicles, 52 aircraft, 1 SAT, 2 SAS teams from the Turkish Navy, 4 general-purpose helicopters and 1 CH-47 helicopter from the Turkish Army, 24 attack aircraft, 1 airborne warning and control aircraft, 1 target towing aircraft, and 1 transport aircraft from the Turkish Air Force. Additionally, 1 gendarmerie search and rescue team, 1 ship, 9 boats, and 1 helicopter from the Coast Guard participated. The Distinguished Observer Day began with a salute shot by the TCG Oruçreis. This was followed by anti-submarine warfare operations. Then, the TCG Gaziantep, TCG Oruçreis, TCG Kınalıada, and TCG Heybeliada ships conducted naval fire support training. Afterward, the AKSUNGUR UAV, which was in flight, performed a MAM-T strike. Following these steps, two Bayraktar TB3 drones took off from the TCG Anadolu ship. The Bayraktar TB3, which had previously conducted test flights from the TCG Anadolu, performed its first official mission in a military exercise. After hitting the designated target, the Bayraktar TB3 successfully landed back on the ship. After completing the Distinguished Observer Day activities, the participating units performed a salute pass.