Breaking News: Türkiye’s MKE Sea Drone Strikes Target Guided by Baykar TB3 UAV from TCG Anadolu Amphibious Ship.

On June 28, 2025, Türkiye’s Baykar and state-owned defense manufacturer MKE demonstrated a major step forward in the integration of unmanned air and sea strike capabilities from the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu. The unprecedented test saw the Bayraktar TB3 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and MKE’s PIRANA Kamikaze Unmanned Maritime Vehicle (KUSV) operate in coordination, showcasing a new dimension for networked naval warfare. This joint trial, as reported by MKE, signals Türkiye’s ambition to redefine its naval strike reach with indigenous unmanned systems, adding a significant layer to NATO’s growing maritime unmanned capabilities.

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Türkiye’s Baykar and MKE have proven that naval operations are entering an era where unmanned air and sea assets work together seamlessly, extending the striking arm of the fleet well beyond traditional ranges (Picture source: BAYKAR)

In this milestone demonstration, the Bayraktar TB3 UAV acted as a critical airborne relay, maintaining constant data link and command over MKE’s PIRANA KUSV. Operating from the TCG Anadolu’s flight deck, the TB3 controlled the kamikaze surface vehicle as it accelerated at high speed toward a designated maritime target. Simultaneously, TCG Anadolu’s dock launched amphibious craft, underlining the ship’s versatility as a multi-domain launch platform for unmanned assets. Footage shows the PIRANA striking its target, a narrow three-meter-wide structure, with pinpoint accuracy, validating the effectiveness of the vessel’s semi-autonomous control and advanced warhead in a realistic maritime scenario.

The successful test reflects years of operational development for both systems. Baykar’s TB3, designed for carrier-based operations with extended endurance, has evolved as an enabler for beyond-line-of-sight missions. Meanwhile, MKE’s PIRANA has completed extensive sea navigation and collision trials, proving its stealth profile, agility, and precision strike capabilities. The concept of using an aerial UAV to extend the command-control range of a maritime kamikaze drone demonstrates Türkiye’s innovative approach to layered naval deterrence.

Compared to other navies experimenting with unmanned swarming or stand-alone systems, this joint demonstration marks a unique integration: for the first time, Türkiye has proven that a single amphibious platform can deploy, control, and coordinate both unmanned air and surface strike assets simultaneously. This capability offers tactical flexibility for asymmetric naval operations, port infiltration, and sea denial missions. It also represents a step ahead of single-domain drone operations seen elsewhere, such as the US Navy’s Sea Hunter or the Royal Navy’s experimental UAV launches, by combining them in a unified strike doctrine.

Strategically, this joint test carries significant implications for Türkiye’s regional maritime posture and NATO’s wider unmanned naval ambitions. The ability to project power with coordinated unmanned assets from the TCG Anadolu bolsters deterrence in contested waters, from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Black Sea. It also showcases Türkiye’s maturing defense industry, capable of delivering indigenous solutions that expand the operational reach and survivability of surface combatants. This integration strengthens the alliance’s collective unmanned warfare ecosystem, setting a precedent for future carrier-based swarming operations and multi-domain autonomous missions at sea.

Türkiye’s Baykar and MKE have proven that naval operations are entering an era where unmanned air and sea assets work together seamlessly, extending the striking arm of the fleet well beyond traditional ranges. With TCG Anadolu’s adaptable flight deck and well dock acting as a true hub for multi-domain operations, the demonstration paves the way for more advanced integration scenarios. As Ankara positions its navy for future challenges, this test sends a clear message: Türkiye intends to stay at the forefront of maritime unmanned warfare and reshape how naval power is projected and sustained in the 21st century.