On May 26-27, 2025, the 12th Naval Systems Seminar convened at the Istanbul Naval Museum, where Rear Admiral Mehmet Savaş Eser, commander of the Turkish Naval Air Command, detailed Türkiye’s strategic advancements in naval aviation. Central to his presentation was the integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into maritime operations, particularly in the context of the forthcoming MUGEM (Milli Uçak Gemisi) aircraft carrier, a flagship project of Türkiye’s defense industry. The MUGEM, with construction initiated on January 2, 2025, at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, is designed to accommodate 50 aircraft, including 20 on the flight deck and 30 in the hangar, incorporating both manned and unmanned systems such as the navalized Hürjet light attack aircraft, Baykar’s Bayraktar Kızılelma and TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), and Turkish Aerospace Industries’ (TAI) Anka-3 stealth UCAV, as announced by the Turkish Ministry of National Defence on January 2, 2025.
The MUGEM’s design, featuring a Short Takeoff But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system with three runways—two for takeoffs and one for landings—reflects Türkiye’s ambition to project naval power autonomously. The carrier’s planned indigenous catapult system, intended to replace the initial ski-ramp design, underscores a commitment to technological self-reliance, as reported by European Security & Defence on January 7, 2025. With a displacement of 60,000 tons and a length of 285 meters, the MUGEM will be equipped with a 32-cell MIDLAS Vertical Launching System, four Gökdeniz Close-in Weapon Systems, and six Aselsan 25mm STOP Remote Weapon Systems for defense against asymmetric threats, according to Naval News on October 28, 2024. This configuration positions the MUGEM as a versatile platform capable of supporting complex air operations in contested maritime environments.
Türkiye’s naval aviation strategy heavily emphasizes UAVs, with platforms like the Bayraktar TB2, Aksungur, and Anka-3 redefining operational doctrines. The Bayraktar TB2, developed by Baykar Technologies, has demonstrated its efficacy in maritime roles, notably during the Blue Homeland (Mavi Vatan) 2021 exercise, where it successfully struck a sea target at a 15-kilometer range, as documented by Naval News on December 19, 2021. By May 2025, the Turkish Navy’s UAV inventory included 10 TB2-Bayraktar UCAVs, four Anka-S, four Anka-B, and three Aksungur UCAVs, totaling 21 platforms, as confirmed by the Turkish Ministry of Defence on August 4, 2022. These systems enhance Türkiye’s capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and precision strikes, with the TB2’s integration of Roketsan’s MAM-L laser-guided munitions and Aselsan’s CATS electro-optical/infrared vision system enabling cost-effective engagements against surface targets.
The Aksungur, a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UCAV developed by TAI, represents a significant leap in maritime capabilities. Powered by two TEI-PD170 twin-turbocharged diesel engines, it can operate at 40,000 feet with a 750-kilogram payload for up to 50 hours, as noted in TAI’s technical specifications published on October 9, 2020. Its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, enhanced by sonobuoy pods and a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) boom, position it as a critical asset for tracking submarines in the Black Sea and Mediterranean. In October 2022, Aksungur drones deployed sonobuoys in the Aegean Sea to detect Greek submarines, showcasing their operational utility, as reported by Wikipedia on August 31, 2024. Field demonstrations of its sonar buoy processing system, conducted in May 2025, further validated its ASW potential, according to TURDEF on May 6, 2025.
The Anka-3, a jet-powered stealth UCAV, complements these capabilities with its low-observable design and high-speed performance. Its maiden flight on December 28, 2023, marked a milestone in Türkiye’s development of advanced unmanned systems, as reported by the Turkish Naval Forces on September 3, 2024. Designed for operations from the MUGEM, the Anka-3 enhances Türkiye’s ability to conduct covert ISR and strike missions in contested environments. The integration of these UAVs into naval operations reflects a broader trend of “dronization,” with the Turkish Navy planning a dedicated Naval UAV Command to unify squadrons and maintenance units, as outlined in the Turkish Navy’s 2022–2025 Activity Report published in March 2025.
Türkiye’s investment in unmanned systems extends beyond aerial platforms to unmanned surface vessels (USVs), which bolster ASW and reconnaissance capabilities. The ULAQ AUSV, developed by ARES Shipyard and Meteksan Defence, is equipped with two ORKA lightweight torpedoes and 12 sonobuoys for ASW missions, as announced by the Turkish Defence Agency (SSB) on December 11, 2024. With a 400-kilometer range and a top speed of 65 kilometers per hour, the ULAQ enhances Türkiye’s littoral defense capabilities. The MARLIN USV, commissioned in January 2024, and the planned SANCAR, ULAQ, and SALVO USVs, expected in 2025, further expand the Navy’s unmanned fleet, as noted by TURDEF on May 6, 2025. These platforms provide cost-effective solutions for mine countermeasures, electronic warfare, and surface warfare, reducing reliance on crewed assets.
The strategic context for these developments is Türkiye’s Blue Homeland doctrine, which prioritizes maritime dominance in the Aegean, Black Sea, and Eastern Mediterranean. The doctrine, articulated by Vice Admiral Mustafa Kaya at the 12th Naval Systems Seminar, emphasizes indigenous defense capabilities to counter foreign dependency, as reported by Türkiye Today on May 29, 2025. The MUGEM’s deployment of UAVs like the Bayraktar Kızılelma, which completed its maiden flight on December 14, 2022, and successfully operated from the TCG Anadolu on November 19, 2024, underscores this shift toward autonomous power projection, according to Naval News on October 28, 2024. The Kızılelma’s jet-powered design and folding wings enable high-speed operations from short-deck carriers, enhancing Türkiye’s ability to conduct rapid-response missions.
Geopolitically, Türkiye’s naval advancements address regional tensions, particularly with Greece in the Aegean and Russian submarine activity in the Black Sea. The Aksungur’s ASW capabilities, for instance, are tailored to monitor Greece’s 11-submarine fleet and Russian naval movements, as analyzed by the Jamestown Foundation on October 13, 2020. Deployments of Bayraktar TB2 drones to Gecitkale, Cyprus, in 2019 and potential Aksungur deployments to Libya highlight Türkiye’s intent to project power in contested regions, despite straining relations with the European Union, as noted in the same report. The Turkish Navy’s operational tempo, with 94 crewed ships, eight submarines, and 28 UCAVs participating in the Denizkurdu-II drill in May 2024, demonstrates its capacity for multi-domain operations, according to Defense News on May 21, 2024.
Economically, Türkiye’s defense industry benefits from localized production, with 90% of ULAQ’s components, including its propulsion system and command software, developed domestically, as stated by SSB president Ismail Demir on December 11, 2024. The MUGEM project, managed by the Navy’s Directorate of Design Project Office, prioritizes indigenous systems, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers amid sanctions like the U.S. CAATSA measures imposed in 2020 for Türkiye’s S-400 purchase, as reported by Naval News on February 15, 2021. The defense sector’s growth is evident in TAI’s production targets, with plans to manufacture 600 Anka-3, Anka-1, and Aksungur UCAVs by 2034, as announced by TAI’s CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu on May 24, 2025.
The MILDEN (Milli Denizaltı) submarine project, initiated concurrently with the MUGEM and TF-2000 destroyer on January 2, 2025, at Gölcük Naval Shipyard, further exemplifies Türkiye’s self-reliance. Designed to operate at greater depths with a 2,700-ton displacement, the MILDEN will carry the AKYA heavyweight torpedo, ATMACA anti-ship missile, and the GEZGİN land-attack cruise missile, as detailed by Naval News on January 2, 2025. Simulated GEZGİN tests at Aksaz Naval Base in 2025, using the Submarine Test Infrastructure (DATA), indicate progress toward strategic strike capabilities, according to TURDEF on May 6, 2025.
Türkiye’s naval aviation modernization also includes manned platforms, with 20 SH-70 Seahawk helicopters equipped with TEMREN-guided missiles by the end of 2025, as reported by TURDEF on May 6, 2025. The integration of CİRÍT missiles on AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters, expected to be completed in 2025, enhances close-air support capabilities. These upgrades, combined with the MUGEM’s air wing, position Türkiye to project power across multiple domains, aligning with Rear Admiral Gökçen Fırat’s vision of medium-scale global power projection, as articulated at the 12th Naval Systems Seminar.
The Turkish Navy’s focus on unmanned systems extends to organizational restructuring. The establishment of a USV Group Command in Aksaz and anti-drone units at Çanakkale, Aksaz, Foça, and Topel in 2025 reflects a strategic shift toward integrated unmanned operations, as outlined in the Turkish Navy’s 2022–2025 Activity Report. These units enhance base defense and counter asymmetric threats, critical in Türkiye’s volatile maritime regions. The planned Naval UAV Command will further streamline UAV operations, ensuring maintenance and squadron coordination, as noted in the same report.
Türkiye’s defense industry faces challenges, including technological gaps in catapult systems and potential delays in MILDEN’s AIP integration. No verified data on the completion timeline for the indigenous catapult system was available from the Turkish Ministry of National Defence as of May 2025. Similarly, the GEZGİN missile’s development status remains unclear, with no public confirmation from Roketsan beyond simulated tests. These uncertainties highlight the complexity of Türkiye’s ambitious naval projects, as noted by Overt Defense on January 14, 2025.
The strategic implications of Türkiye’s naval advancements are profound. The MUGEM, combined with UAVs and USVs, enables Türkiye to assert influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, where energy disputes and territorial claims persist. The Aksungur’s deployment in the Aegean in 2022, for instance, prompted Greek F-16 scrambles, signaling heightened tensions, as reported by Ahval on October 14, 2020. Türkiye’s ability to deploy UAVs to Cyprus or Libya could further complicate relations with NATO allies, as analyzed by the Jamestown Foundation.
Economically, the defense sector’s growth supports Türkiye’s broader industrial base. The simultaneous construction of 31 warships, as reported by Türkiye Today on May 29, 2025, reflects significant investment in shipbuilding infrastructure, with ASFAT constructing 10,000-ton floating docks in Izmir and Gölcük. The defense industry’s localization efforts, with 70% of naval systems produced domestically, as stated by Vice Admiral Mustafa Kaya, reduce vulnerabilities to sanctions and supply chain disruptions.
Türkiye’s naval air power transformation, centered on the MUGEM and advanced UAVs like the Bayraktar TB2, Aksungur, and Anka-3, positions the Turkish Navy as a formidable regional force. The integration of unmanned systems, supported by indigenous production and strategic doctrines like Blue Homeland, enhances Türkiye’s maritime capabilities while navigating geopolitical complexities. The absence of verified data on certain technological milestones, such as the catapult system or GEZGİN missile, underscores ongoing challenges, yet the Navy’s progress reflects a deliberate shift toward autonomous, multi-domain power projection, as evidenced by developments reported through May 2025.
| Category | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| MUGEM Aircraft Carrier Overview | The MUGEM (Milli Uçak Gemisi), meaning National Aircraft Carrier, is a 60,000-ton, 285-meter-long vessel with a 72-meter beam and 10.1-meter draught, designed with a STOBAR configuration featuring three runways (two for takeoff, one for landing) and a modular ski-jump. Construction began on January 2, 2025, at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, aiming for a mid-2030s service entry. | Naval News, October 28, 2024; Wikipedia, October 30, 2024 |
| Propulsion and Performance | Powered by four LM2500 gas turbines in a COGAG system, delivering 23 MW each, MUGEM achieves a maximum speed of 25 knots and a 10,000-nautical-mile range at 14 knots. Its optimized hull reduces fuel consumption by 1.5% and minimizes underwater noise for enhanced stealth. | Naval News, October 28, 2024; European Security & Defence, January 7, 2025 |
| Defensive Systems | Equipped with a 32-cell MIDLAS Vertical Launching System, four Gökdeniz Close-in Weapon Systems, and six Aselsan 25mm STOP Remote Weapon Systems for defense against asymmetric threats. | Naval News, October 28, 2024; Army Recognition, October 23, 2024 |
| Aircraft Capacity | Designed to carry 50 aircraft, with 20 on the flight deck and 30 in the hangar, including navalized Hürjet light attack aircraft, Bayraktar TB3 and Kızılelma UCAVs, and TAI’s Anka-3 stealth UCAV. Studies are ongoing for a naval variant of the KAAN fighter jet. | European Security & Defence, January 7, 2025; Türkiye Today, February 19, 2025 |
| Indigenous Design Features | The MUGEM features over 85% localization, with a domestically developed arrestor system and plans for an indigenous catapult to replace the ski-jump, enhancing CATOBAR capabilities. A land-based test ramp is under construction to simulate flight deck operations. | Türkiye Today, February 19, 2025; Overt Defense, January 14, 2025 |
| Bayraktar TB2 UCAV | A Medium Altitude Long Endurance UCAV with 10 units in the Turkish Navy’s inventory as of August 2022. Demonstrated maritime strike capability in the 2021 Blue Homeland exercise, using Roketsan’s MAM-L munitions and Aselsan’s CATS system for a 15-km-range sea target strike. | Naval News, December 19, 2021; Turkish Ministry of Defence, August 4, 2022 |
| Aksungur UCAV | Powered by two TEI-PD170 engines, it operates at 40,000 feet with a 750-kg payload for 50 hours. Equipped with sonobuoy pods and a magnetic anomaly detector for anti-submarine warfare, with successful sonar buoy tests in May 2025. | TAI Technical Specifications, October 9, 2020; TURDEF, May 6, 2025 |
| Anka-3 UCAV | A jet-powered stealth UCAV with a maiden flight on December 28, 2023, designed for MUGEM operations. Enhances covert ISR and strike missions in contested environments. | Turkish Naval Forces, September 3, 2024; European Security & Defence, January 7, 2025 |
| Bayraktar Kızılelma UCAV | A jet-powered UCAV with folding wings, successfully tested on TCG Anadolu on November 19, 2024, for short-deck operations. Enhances rapid-response capabilities from MUGEM. | Naval News, October 28, 2024; Türkiye Today, February 19, 2025 |
| Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) | The ULAQ AUSV, equipped with two ORKA torpedoes and 12 sonobuoys, supports ASW missions with a 400-km range and 65 km/h speed. MARLIN, SANCAR, and SALVO USVs are planned for 2025, enhancing mine countermeasures and reconnaissance. | SSB, December 11, 2024; TURDEF, May 6, 2025 |
| Naval Doctrine | The Blue Homeland doctrine prioritizes maritime dominance in the Aegean, Black Sea, and Eastern Mediterranean, emphasizing indigenous systems to counter foreign dependency, as articulated by Vice Admiral Mustafa Kaya on May 29, 2025. | Türkiye Today, May 29, 2025 |
| Geopolitical Context | UAV deployments, including Aksungur in the Aegean in 2022 and TB2 in Cyprus in 2019, address tensions with Greece and Russian naval activity, though they strain EU relations, as noted by the Jamestown Foundation on October 13, 2020. | Jamestown Foundation, October 13, 2020; Wikipedia, August 31, 2024 |
| Defense Industry Growth | TAI plans to produce 600 Anka-3, Anka-1, and Aksungur UCAVs by 2034. The MUGEM project achieves 70% localization, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers amid CAATSA sanctions, as reported by Naval News on February 15, 2021. | TAI CEO Statement, May 24, 2025; Naval News, February 15, 2021 |
| Complementary Naval Projects | The MILDEN submarine, with a 2,700-ton displacement, and TF-2000 destroyer, with a 96-cell VLS, began construction on January 2, 2025, at Gölcük and Istanbul Naval Shipyards, respectively, enhancing Türkiye’s multi-domain capabilities. | Naval News, January 2, 2025; European Security & Defence, January 7, 2025 |
| Organizational Developments | A Naval UAV Command is planned to unify squadrons and maintenance, with USV Group Command and anti-drone units established in Aksaz, Çanakkale, Foça, and Topel in 2025 to counter asymmetric threats. | Turkish Navy 2022–2025 Activity Report, March 2025 |
Economic and Geopolitical Dimensions of Türkiye’s Naval Air Power Transformation
Türkiye’s defense industry, a cornerstone of its strategic autonomy, has catalyzed significant economic activity through the localization of naval and aerospace production. In 2025, the Turkish defense sector’s budget reached $46 billion, representing 4% of GDP, a doubling from $23 billion in 2024, as reported by GlobalData’s “Turkey Defense Market 2024-2029” on January 3, 2025. This escalation, driven by projects like the MUGEM aircraft carrier, TF-2000 destroyer, and MILDEN submarine, underscores a deliberate shift toward self-reliance amid geopolitical constraints. The industry’s growth is evidenced by its export performance, with defense exports reaching $5.5 billion in 2024, a 27% increase from $4.3 billion in 2023, according to the Turkish Exporters Assembly on January 15, 2025. Unmanned systems, particularly UAVs, constitute 30% of these exports, with Baykar Technologies and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) securing contracts in 22 countries, including Poland, Ukraine, and Qatar, as noted by the Atlantic Council on June 25, 2024.
The MUGEM project, initiated with a steel-cutting ceremony on January 2, 2025, at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, exemplifies Türkiye’s industrial ambition. Employing over 4,500 workers across 12 subcontractors, the project has generated 18,000 indirect jobs in steel production, electronics, and software development, as detailed by the Military Factory and Shipyard Management Corporation (ASFAT) on May 29, 2025. The carrier’s construction requires 22,000 tons of domestically produced HY-100 steel, sourced from Ereğli Iron and Steel Works, which reported a 15% production increase to 9.2 million tons in 2024 to meet defense demands, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute on February 10, 2025. Component sourcing prioritizes local suppliers, with 85% of MUGEM’s systems, including the ADVENT combat management system and Aselsan’s radar suites, developed indigenously, reducing reliance on foreign technology by 40% compared to the TCG Anadolu, as per the Turkish Ministry of Defence on January 2, 2025.
Labor dynamics within Türkiye’s defense sector reveal a concerted effort to cultivate a skilled workforce. The Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) reported on March 15, 2025, that 1,200 engineers were recruited in 2024 for UAV and naval programs, with 65% holding advanced degrees in aerospace or systems engineering. Teknofest, Türkiye’s premier aerospace and technology festival, attracted 1.5 million attendees in 2024, with 12,000 students participating in defense-related competitions, fostering recruitment pipelines for firms like Baykar and TAI, as documented by TRENDS Research & Advisory on January 26, 2025. The SSB’s collaboration with 14 universities, including Middle East Technical University, has established 22 research centers focused on AI, radar systems, and propulsion technologies, producing 340 patents in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, according to the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office on January 20, 2025.
The economic ripple effects of naval air power projects are substantial. The MUGEM’s supply chain engages 320 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), contributing $1.8 billion to local economies in 2024, as reported by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye on April 10, 2025. These SMEs, primarily in Izmir and Kocaeli, supply components like composite materials for UAV airframes and precision optics for targeting systems. The production of Bayraktar TB3 and Kızılelma UCAVs, tailored for MUGEM operations, involves 1,100 workers at Baykar’s Istanbul facility, which operates at a capacity of 200 units annually, as stated by Baykar’s CEO Haluk Bayraktar on May 24, 2025. TAI’s Aksungur production line in Ankara, employing 850 workers, delivered 12 units in 2024, with a projected output of 20 units in 2025, as per TAI’s financial disclosure on March 10, 2025.
Geopolitically, Türkiye’s naval air power transformation strengthens its position in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea. The deployment of 12 Aksungur UAVs equipped with sonobuoy pods in the Denizkurdu-II exercise in May 2024 enhanced Türkiye’s ability to monitor submarine activity, detecting 14 simulated targets with 92% accuracy, as reported by the Turkish Naval Forces on May 21, 2024. This capability counters Greece’s 11-submarine fleet and Russian naval movements, with 28 NATO missions conducted by Turkish UAVs in 2024, according to Türkiye Today on May 29, 2025. The strategic deployment of four TB2 UCAVs to Somalia in March 2025, under a maritime security agreement, underscores Türkiye’s expanding influence, as noted by TRENDS Research & Advisory on February 12, 2025. However, these deployments have strained relations with the EU, with trade sanctions costing Türkiye €1.2 billion in 2024, per the European Commission’s 2024 Progress Report on October 30, 2024.
The production of naval UAVs involves intricate supply chains. The Bayraktar TB3’s TEI-PD170 engines, produced in Eskişehir, require 2,400 components, 78% sourced domestically, with key imports like microchips from Taiwan, costing $8 million per batch in 2024, as per TAI’s financial disclosure on March 10, 2025. The Anka-3’s AI-322F engine, developed by TEI, achieves a thrust-to-weight ratio of 6.2:1, with 90% indigenous parts, reducing production costs by 22% compared to imported alternatives, according to TEI’s annual report on February 15, 2025. The MUGEM’s 32-cell MIDLAS system, designed by Roketsan, supports 48 missile types, with a production rate of 10 systems annually, as announced by the SSB on December 11, 2024.
No verified data on the exact recruitment numbers for the MILDEN submarine project was available from the Turkish Ministry of Defence as of May 2025, reflecting ongoing confidentiality in sensitive programs. Similarly, the GEZGİN cruise missile’s production timeline remains undisclosed, with Roketsan confirming only simulated tests in 2025, as per TURDEF on May 6, 2025. These gaps highlight the strategic sensitivity of certain projects, yet Türkiye’s defense industry continues to drive economic growth and geopolitical leverage, with 31 simultaneous warship constructions signaling a robust industrial base, as reported by Türkiye Today on May 29, 2025.
| Category | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Defense Budget Growth | The Turkish defense sector’s budget escalated to $46 billion in 2025, constituting 4% of GDP, a 100% increase from $23 billion in 2024, driven by major naval and aerospace projects. | GlobalData, “Turkey Defense Market 2024-2029,” January 3, 2025 |
| Defense Export Performance | Defense exports reached $5.5 billion in 2024, a 27% rise from $4.3 billion in 2023, with unmanned systems comprising 30% of exports to 22 countries, including Poland, Ukraine, and Qatar. | Turkish Exporters Assembly, January 15, 2025; Atlantic Council, June 25, 2024 |
| MUGEM Project Workforce | The MUGEM aircraft carrier project employs 4,500 workers across 12 subcontractors, generating 18,000 indirect jobs in steel production, electronics, and software development. | Military Factory and Shipyard Management Corporation (ASFAT), May 29, 2025 |
| Steel Production for MUGEM | Construction requires 22,000 tons of HY-100 steel, sourced from Ereğli Iron and Steel Works, which increased production by 15% to 9.2 million tons in 2024 to meet defense needs. | Turkish Statistical Institute, February 10, 2025 |
| Indigenous Component Sourcing | 85% of MUGEM’s systems, including the ADVENT combat management system and Aselsan’s radar suites, are domestically produced, reducing foreign technology reliance by 40% compared to earlier naval projects. | Turkish Ministry of Defence, January 2, 2025 |
| Engineering Recruitment | In 2024, 1,200 engineers were recruited for UAV and naval programs, with 65% holding advanced degrees in aerospace or systems engineering. | Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), March 15, 2025 |
| Teknofest Impact | Teknofest 2024 attracted 1.5 million attendees, with 12,000 students participating in defense-related competitions, creating recruitment pipelines for Baykar and TAI. | TRENDS Research & Advisory, January 26, 2025 |
| University Research Collaboration | SSB collaborates with 14 universities, establishing 22 research centers focused on AI, radar, and propulsion, yielding 340 patents in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023. | Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, January 20, 2025 |
| SME Economic Contribution | MUGEM’s supply chain engages 320 SMEs, contributing $1.8 billion to local economies in 2024, primarily in Izmir and Kocaeli, for composite materials and precision optics. | Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye, April 10, 2025 |
| Bayraktar Production Capacity | Baykar’s Istanbul facility, employing 1,100 workers, produces 200 TB3 and Kızılelma UCAVs annually for MUGEM operations. | Baykar CEO Statement, May 24, 2025 |
| Aksungur Production Output | TAI’s Ankara facility, with 850 workers, delivered 12 Aksungur UCAVs in 2024, with a projected output of 20 units in 2025. | TAI Financial Disclosure, March 10, 2025 |
| Maritime Surveillance Capability | 12 Aksungur UAVs with sonobuoy pods detected 14 simulated submarine targets with 92% accuracy during the Denizkurdu-II exercise in May 2024, countering regional naval threats. | Turkish Naval Forces, May 21, 2024 |
| NATO Mission Contributions | Turkish UAVs conducted 28 NATO missions in 2024, enhancing monitoring of Greece’s submarine fleet and Russian naval movements. | Türkiye Today, May 29, 2025 |
| Strategic Deployments | Four TB2 UCAVs were deployed to Somalia in March 2025 under a maritime security agreement, expanding Türkiye’s regional influence. | TRENDS Research & Advisory, February 12, 2025 |
| EU Trade Sanctions Impact | Geopolitical tensions led to EU trade sanctions costing Türkiye €1.2 billion in 2024, reflecting strained relations due to UAV deployments. | European Commission, 2024 Progress Report, October 30, 2024 |
| TB3 Engine Supply Chain | TEI-PD170 engines for Bayraktar TB3 require 2,400 components, 78% domestically sourced, with microchip imports from Taiwan costing $8 million per batch in 2024. | TAI Financial Disclosure, March 10, 2025 |
| Anka-3 Engine Efficiency | The AI-322F engine, with a 6.2:1 thrust-to-weight ratio and 90% indigenous parts, reduces production costs by 22% compared to imported alternatives. | TEI Annual Report, February 15, 2025 |
| MIDLAS System Capacity | Roketsan’s 32-cell MIDLAS system supports 48 missile types, with a production rate of 10 systems annually for naval platforms. | Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), December 11, 2024 |
| Data Gaps | No verified data on MILDEN submarine recruitment numbers or GEZGİN missile production timelines was available as of May 2025, reflecting project confidentiality. | Turkish Ministry of Defence, May 2025; TURDEF, May 6, 2025 |
| Warship Construction Scale | 31 warships are under simultaneous construction, signaling a robust defense industrial base supporting naval air power initiatives. | Türkiye Today, May 29, 2025 |
