Turkey has once again made aviation history with the Bayraktar TB3, the world’s first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of performing fully autonomous takeoffs and landings on a short-deck vessel. During the “Autonomous Takeoff and Landing Tests from Short Runway Ships” carried out on April 22, 2025, Bayraktar TB3 successfully completed four sorties from the TCG Anadolu, Turkey’s flagship amphibious assault ship sailing in the Saros Gulf. The UAV completed its final sortie at sunset, once again without the need for any landing assistance equipment.

Throughout the tests, Baykar’s artificial intelligence-supported flight control algorithms performed flawlessly, autonomously managing variables such as ship movement, wind conditions, and deck length. This achievement demonstrates the TB3’s readiness for beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) and long-endurance missions, crucial for naval operations across distant seas.

Bayraktar TB3 has now accumulated 1,016 flight hours and 42 minutes in total. It had previously flown continuously for 32 hours, covering 5,700 kilometers during its long-endurance test on December 20, 2023. In another key milestone, the TB3 reached 36,310 feet in altitude on June 25, 2024, during a high-altitude performance test powered by the indigenous TEI-PD170 engine, proving its suitability for extended maritime surveillance and strike missions.

The UAV has also demonstrated combat effectiveness. In March 2025, Bayraktar TB3 successfully conducted live-fire tests with Roketsan’s IHA-122 supersonic missile, striking sea targets with pinpoint accuracy. During the March 27 test, the TB3 operated below line-of-sight altitude while a Bayraktar TB2 UAV illuminated the target with a laser — marking the first coordinated engagement between two UAVs in Turkish defense history.

Featuring foldable wings and designed for compact storage aboard short-deck ships like TCG Anadolu, the Bayraktar TB3 will provide the Turkish Navy with unprecedented reconnaissance and strike capabilities far beyond the national coastline. With its BLOS communication feature, the TB3 can be operated from thousands of kilometers away, giving Turkey a powerful force multiplier in overseas missions.

As Turkey’s leading defense exporter, Baykar continues to break new ground in UAV technology. Following the international success of Bayraktar TB2 and AKINCI, the TB3 represents the next step in maritime unmanned air operations, strengthening Turkey’s strategic position as a global leader in UAV exports and innovation.