Military drones at “Steadfast Dart 2026”: Baykar TB3 launches from “TCG Anadolu” in freezing cold

NATO reaction forces (ARF) in the Baltic Sea region are demonstrating at “Steadfast Dart 26” (STDT26) how quickly the Alliance can deploy and integrate forces to support collective defence. The exercise in January and February 2026 is the largest of NATO – and military drones also play a role in it.

Autonomous mobility in action 🇮🇹🤖
During #SteadfastDart26, an Italian Armed Forces VIKING UGV by Iveco Defence Vehicles moves across snow-covered terrain, highlighting advanced logistics and force protection in demanding conditions.
Built to support troops on the ground, it… pic.twitter.com/V9MDdGbuRp

Around 10,000 personnel from 13 Allied nations are taking part. They include Italy, Greece, Germany, Czechia, Spain, Lithuania, Estonia and Türkiye; they are supported by France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom.

🇮🇹🇹🇷 Strength in Unity at #SteadfastDart26!🔥
Troops from Italy and Türkiye conducts advanced combined arms training to enhance interoperability and readiness during NATO’s largest exercise of 2026.#NATO. Ready. United💪#WeAreNATO | #StrongerTogether @NATO @SHAPE_NATO… pic.twitter.com/nm6Vk38fb7

Ships, aircraft, vehicles and sensors

At sea, 17 naval units are deployed, including amphibious landing ships, frigates, mine countermeasures vessels, destroyers and submarines. In the air, more than 20 aircraft are involved, among them Eurofighter, F-16 and A400M. On land, the exercise comprises over 1,500 military vehicles – from main battle tanks, rocket launchers and self-propelled artillery to infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and armoured personnel carriers (APCs).

There are also intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets: unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) and electro-optical and thermal sensors. Force protection is provided by counter-UAS systems, electronic warfare and jamming equipment, decoys and explosive ordnance disposal robots.

Denizlerde ve semalarda millî gücümüzle görev başındayız. 💪🇹🇷
🎯 Steadfast Dart-2026 Tatbikatı
🗓️ 14 Şubat 2026
🌊Baltık Denizi açıkları
TCG Anadolu’ya konuşlu Bayraktar TB-3 SİHA, ilk kez katıldığı bir NATO tatbikatında gemi üzerinden kalkış gerçekleştirerek deniz üzerindeki… pic.twitter.com/U5VbHnLKtR

Turkish military drones on “TCG Anadolu”

Türkiye provided an amphibious task group. Its core is the amphibious assault ship “TCG Anadolu” (L-400), the largest ship of the Turkish Navy. It is accompanied by the combat support ship “TCG Derya” and the frigates “TCG İstanbul” and “TCG Burgazada”. On board are an amphibious marine infantry battalion and three Bayraktar TB3 attack drones from Turkish manufacturer Baykar.

✈️ #BayraktarTB3 ⚓️🚀
⚓️ TCG ANADOLU
🛫 Steadfast Dart-2026 NATO Tatbikatı
2️⃣ x MAM-L Salvo Atışı
🎯 Tam İsabet
🛫 Steadfast Dart-2026 NATO Exercise
2️⃣ x MAM-L Salvo Firing
🎯 Bull’s Eye#MilliTeknolojiHamlesi 🌍🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/wcBrgMduUC

For the Bayraktar TB3 attack drones it was a double premiere: their first use in an amphibious operation and at the same time their first in a NATO exercise. Launched from the deck of “TCG Anadolu”, the Bayraktar TB3s hit their targets in the Baltic Sea precisely and then returned successfully to “TCG Anadolu”.

Compared with the TB2, from which it was developed, the TB3 has folding wings that save space on board carriers. It is also optimised for short take-offs and landings on ships. With a wingspan of 14 metres, the TB3 operates with a maximum take-off weight of 1,450 kilograms and a payload capacity of 280 kilograms. A turbodiesel engine enables flights of more than 24 hours and distances of around 2,000 kilometres. Satellite communications allow flights beyond line-of-sight links – even in the harsh winter conditions of the Baltic Sea.