During a major exercise organized by NATO in Germany, Türkiye once again demonstrated the strength of its defense industry and military capabilities. Speaking at the HAVELSAN Technology Campus during the commissioning ceremony of the SANCAR Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle and groundbreaking events for new facilities, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that the Turkish Armed Forces had “written an epic” with the participation of Bayraktar TB3 and TCG Anadolu in the exercise. He emphasized that the operations carried out under the harsh weather conditions of the Baltic Sea clearly showcased Türkiye’s advanced unmanned systems capabilities.

During the drill, Bayraktar TB3 successfully executed live-fire missions and remained airborne for eight hours, covering a total distance of approximately 1,700 kilometers. Operating in coordination with Eurofighter jets, TB3 completed its mission and performed a safe landing on the flight deck of TCG Anadolu. This achievement marked a significant milestone in naval aviation concepts, proving Türkiye’s ability to operate armed unmanned aerial vehicles from sea-based platforms, a capability possessed by only a limited number of countries worldwide.

President Erdoğan also highlighted the structural transformation of Türkiye’s defense industry over the past two decades. He noted that foreign dependency, once at 80 percent, has now been reduced to 20 percent thanks to sustained investments in domestic and national technologies. In 2023, Türkiye’s defense and aerospace exports increased by 48 percent compared to the previous year, surpassing $10 billion. Türkiye currently ranks among the top 11 defense exporters globally and aims to enter the top 10 by reaching $11 billion in exports by 2028.

At the ceremony, HAVELSAN officially commissioned the SANCAR Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle, laid the foundation of the Simulator Production and Integration Facility, and inaugurated the Kaan Technology Facility along with the Naval Combat Management Systems Center. Erdoğan stressed that digital sovereignty in defense — including secure software, uninterrupted communication, and cyber resilience — is an inseparable component of national security. He underlined that Türkiye’s advancements in unmanned systems, naval platforms, and indigenous software solutions are strengthening both its “Blue Homeland” and aerial defense posture, reinforcing its deterrence and strategic autonomy on the global stage.