Türkiye, for the first time, used combat drones within the framework of an amphibious landing operation scenario during NATO’s largest exercise of the year, Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu said Wednesday.

For the first time, unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) were used within the framework of an amphibious landing operation scenario during the NATO Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise, Tatlıoğlu said at a press conference during the maritime phase of NATO Steadfast Dart 2026, hosted by Germany at the Putlos training and exercise area.

Tatlıoğlu observed the exercise, together with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Chief of the German General Staff Carsten Breuer, and Commander of NATO’s Joint Force Command Brunssum General Ingo Gerhartz.

Mentioning that Steadfast Dart 2026 is NATO’s largest exercise of the year with the participation of more than 10,000 personnel, Tatlıoğlu said: “Within the scope of Steadfast Dart 26, the Turkish Naval Forces have deployed the Anadolu Turkish Naval Task Group, consisting of approximately 1,500 personnel and possessing multi-purpose operational capability, to the Baltic Sea.”

He added that the Anadolu Turkish Naval Task Group includes the multi-purpose amphibious ship TCG Anadolu, the logistics support and combat support ship TCG Derya, the first domestically produced frigate TCG Istanbul, the first frigate modernized with national capabilities TCG Oruçreis, an amphibious marine battalion, amphibious landing vehicles, attack and utility helicopters, and Bayraktar TB-3 UCAV systems.

Emphasizing that the exercise holds two important aspects for them, he said: “First, the Turkish Naval Forces are demonstrating a power projection capability at this scale and level within the allied framework. For the first time in an amphibious operation, we are using our UCAVs to soften the landing zone.”

The Naval Forces commander stated that the structure they have formed is fully compatible with NATO’s new force model and high-readiness requirements, and that it serves as a significant force multiplier. “We currently continue to maintain a naval presence in the Baltic Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, and the seas surrounding Türkiye.”

Responding to a question about whether Turkish UAV and UCAV systems would be used in other exercises, Tatlıoğlu said: “As you know, we are using our unmanned aerial vehicles in the Black Sea region. Due to the Ukraine-Russia war, more than 400 mines drifting from Ukraine are present in the Black Sea. We are combating these drifting mines. We use our UAVs to detect these mines.”

Noting that Türkiye shares its experience in the use of unmanned aerial and naval vehicles with NATO allies, he added: “As part of a NATO exercise, we are using our UAVs in an amphibious operation for the first time. As you know, we are quite proficient in unmanned systems. We have various UAVs and unmanned naval vehicles. We strive to share all our experience in this field with NATO allied countries, and this marks a first.”

The Turkish Armed Forces demonstrated their ability to conduct coordinated operations with allied countries and displayed their operational capabilities in Germany as part of NATO’s largest and most comprehensive live exercise of the year, “Steadfast Dart 2026.”

As part of the event hosted by Germany, naval, air, and land elements from 11 allied countries, including Türkiye, Spain, Germany, and Italy, conducted a joint amphibious landing operation under realistic conditions.

With aerial support provided by “Seahawk” and “Super Cobra” helicopters deployed aboard the TCG Anadolu, the Turkish team and Spanish special forces advanced inland, securing the beach area and preparing it for the landing of armored amphibious vehicles (ZAHA).

With aerial support provided by “Seahawk” and “Super Cobra” helicopters deployed aboard the TCG Anadolu, the Turkish SAT team and Spanish special forces advanced inland, securing the beach area and preparing it for the landing of armored amphibious vehicles (ZAHA).

The exercise was observed jointly by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Commander of NATO Joint Force Command Brunssum General Ingo Gerhartz, as well as Tatlıoğlu.

Meanwhile, key force-multiplying elements developed by the Turkish defense industry, including TCG Anadolu, the Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle, and ZAHA, were also showcased on the international stage during the exercise.

Published February 18,2026

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The Turkish Armed Forces showcased their operational skills and their ability to conduct coordinated missions with allied countries in Germany as part of NATO’s largest and most comprehensive live exercise this year, Steadfast Dart 2026.

The Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise, organized by NATO’s Joint Force Command Brunssum in the Netherlands and hosted by Germany, is ongoing on Wednesday.

A press and distinguished observers day for the maritime phase of the exercise, which aims to enhance allies’ joint operational capabilities, test the rapid deployment and sustainment of high-readiness forces, validate command-and-control mechanisms, and improve interoperability among naval, air, and land elements, was held at the Putlos training and exercise area on the Baltic Sea coast near the city of Kiel.

As part of the event, naval, air, and land units from 11 allied countries, notably Türkiye, Spain, Germany, and Italy, carried out a joint amphibious landing operation under highly realistic conditions.

During the exercise, the Turkish Navy’s Underwater Offense Team (SAT) and Spanish Army special forces neutralized underwater traps and conducted an infiltration mission in a joint operation.

Supported from the air by Seahawk and Super Cobra helicopters deployed on the TCG Anadolu, Turkish SAT teams and Spanish special forces advanced inland, securing the shoreline for the landing operation of armored amphibious assault vehicles.

Mechanized units arriving aboard armored amphibious vehicles from the TCG Anadolu established control of the coastal area.

The scenario for the maritime phase, in which the Turkish Armed Forces played a leading role, was successfully completed during the press and observers day, with field units earning praise for their performance.

The exercise was observed by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, NATO Joint Force Command Brunssum Commander Ingo Gerhartz, and Turkish Naval Forces Commander Ercüment Tatlıoğlu.

The exercise also provided an international platform for key force-multiplier systems developed by Türkiye’s defense industry, including the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu and the armed unmanned aerial vehicle Bayraktar TB3, along with armored amphibious assault vehicles.

Published February 15,2026

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Türkiye on Sunday dispatched its deep-sea drillship Çağrı Bey to Somalia for its first mission abroad, a move Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar called a historic step in the country’s offshore energy drive.

Speaking at a ceremony at Taşucu Port in Mersin, Bayraktar said the vessel is expected to reach Mogadishu in about 45 days and begin drilling in April at the Curad-1 well.

Türkiye and Somalia signed agreements in 2024 covering onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration. The seismic vessel Oruç Reis previously completed surveys in three offshore blocks.

With the addition of Çağrı Bey and Yıldırım, the number of drillships in Türkiye’s fleet has risen to six, Bayraktar said. Together with the seismic vessels Oruç Reis and Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa, Türkiye now has the world’s fourth-largest offshore exploration fleet, he said.

Since the beginning of the year, Türkiye has signed strategic agreements with US-based ExxonMobil and Chevron and UK-based BP in oil and gas exploration, Bayraktar said. Another overseas offshore partnership agreement with an international company is planned for next week, he added.

Bayraktar said Türkiye aims for its national oil company to reach production of around 500,000 barrels of oil and gas per day by 2028, with a longer-term goal of increasing capacity to 1 million barrels per day.

“I firmly believe that Çağrı Bey, which we are assigning to search for oil outside our territorial waters for the first time, will elevate Türkiye-Somalia relations to a higher level,” Bayraktar said, wishing the crew a safe and successful mission.