The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV took to the world stage as part of NATO's Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise. Taking off autonomously from TCG ANADOLU's short runway, Bayraktar TB3 scored direct hits on surface targets with a dual salvo MAM-L strike during a live-fire exercise in the Baltic Sea, successfully completing its first operational demonstration abroad.

GERMANY / KIEL
14 FEBRUARY 2026

The Turkish defense industry has successfully completed yet another milestone in naval aviation. During the naval phase of Steadfast Dart 2026, NATO's largest and most comprehensive exercise of 2026, the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV stationed aboard TCG ANADOLU once again proved its mettle with its short-runway autonomous takeoff capability and firepower.

DIRECT HIT IN THE BALTIC SEA
During the exercise, Bayraktar TB3, which took off smoothly from the ship's short runway, destroyed the designated surface targets with pinpoint accuracy in a dual-salvo MAM-L strike. Soldiers from participating nations gave full marks to the indigenous UCAV following its successful strikes against naval targets. Having impressed allied soldiers, Bayraktar TB3 safely landed back on TCG ANADOLU after the precision strikes, completing the mission successfully.

FIRST OPERATIONAL DEMONSTRATION ABROAD
As the world's first UCAV capable of conducting operations by taking off and landing from short-runway ships, Bayraktar TB3's participation holds strategic significance as it marks its first operational demonstration in an overseas theater of operations. While three Bayraktar TB3 UCAVs are currently operational aboard TCG ANADOLU, their performance in a challenging environment like the Baltic Sea has attracted considerable interest from NATO allies.

COORDINATED OPERATIONS AHEAD
In the upcoming phases of the exercise, Bayraktar TB3 capabilities will continue to be showcased at the highest level. According to the plan, two Bayraktar TB3 UCAVs are set to take off from TCG ANADOLU in succession to conduct a coordinated operation in the coming days. In this phase, one Bayraktar TB3 will carry out a salvo MAM-L strike, while the other Bayraktar TB3 platform is planned to fire the higher-destructive-power MAM-T munition.

STRATEGIC MISSIONS ON THE WAY
During the Distinguished Visitors Day, Bayraktar TB3 will present a special flight demonstration for NATO senior command. A long-range flight mission is also among the possible scenarios within the scope of the exercise. The presence of TCG ANADOLU, hosting the Bayraktar TB3 UCAVs, and its accompanying Turkish naval task group in the Baltic Sea is regarded by defense experts as one of the most important elements of deterrence within the framework of allied defense plans.

EXPORT CHAMPION
Having funded all its projects entirely from its own resources since its inception, Baykar continued to be the world's largest exporter in the unmanned aerial vehicle segment in 2025. Maintaining its leadership in the global UCAV market over the past three years, Baykar broke its own record with an export volume of $2.2 billion in 2025. Deriving 90% of its revenue from exports in recent years, Baykar has become the driving force of Türkiye's high-technology exports.

BAYKAR: THE WORLD'S LARGEST UAV COMPANY
Having ranked among the top 10 exporting companies across all sectors in Türkiye in 2023 and 2024 and winning the Export Champions Award, Baykar became the export leader of the defense and aerospace sector in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 according to data from Defense Industry Agency (SSB) and the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM). Single-handedly accounting for one-third of sector exports in 2023 and one-quarter of total defense and aerospace sector exports in 2024, Baykar has propelled Türkiye to a leading position in the global UCAV export market. As the world's largest unmanned aerial vehicle company, Baykar has signed export agreements with a total of 37 countries — 36 countries for the Bayraktar TB2 UCAV and 16 countries so far for the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV.