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The Turkish Naval Forces concluded the Distinguished Observer Day of the National Unmanned Naval Systems Exercise 2026 (TURNAs-2026) off Sarısu Beach in the Konyaaltı district of Antalya, demonstrating national and NATO-compatible unmanned systems operating in a maritime warfare setting.

The event, directed by the Naval Forces Command, involved 18 ships, 11 aircraft and 1,300 personnel. Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu and Deputy Minister of National Defence Bilal Durdalı followed the day's activities.

Drills across the coast and amphibious target area

The exercise programme covered covert reconnaissance and surveillance, mine detection and destruction along the coastline, reconnaissance and surveillance of the amphibious target area, and the detection and softening of an enemy beachhead.

Unmanned land and air vehicles were also employed in close-quarters urban combat scenarios during the drills.

Kamikaze systems and live engagements demonstrated

Sonobuoy drops were carried out from TB3 and AKSUNGUR unmanned aerial vehicles, a TUNGA-X radar-integrated hunter drone swarm attack was staged, a ŞİMŞEK-K loitering munition was released from an ANKA-S unmanned aerial vehicle, and the explosives-laden PİRANA kamikaze unmanned surface vehicle was launched in an attack run.

Aboard TCG BEYKOZ, the TOLGA close-in air defence system was used to destroy an FPV drone and a kamikaze unmanned surface vehicle. Training was also conducted for the recovery of personnel who fall into the sea.

Fleet units and industry systems on display

The exercise drew on a multipurpose amphibious assault ship, frigates, corvettes, fast attack craft, a submarine, mine countermeasures vessels, a test and training ship, amphibious landing ships and auxiliary vessels, together with unmanned surface vehicles and Coast Guard boats.

Participants were shown the installation of the ADVENT UFUK and TDR command and control systems, and defence industry companies displayed the systems they have developed. The observer day closed with a passage of unmanned surface vehicles.

Tatlıoğlu calls the exercise historic for the navy

Speaking after the observer day activities, Tatlıoğlu said TURNAs-2026 was the first exercise of its kind held by the navy and had been carried out successfully. Seventeen companies took part with 41 systems, and hybrid use of unmanned surface, subsurface, air and land vehicles alongside manned platforms was tested.

Tatlıoğlu said future naval warfare would be fought with unmanned vehicles, describing the event as "a historic exercise for our naval forces" in which every class of unmanned system fought within a single scenario. "It is the rehearsal of the war we will wage in the future," Tatlıoğlu said.

Referring to ongoing conflicts in the world and in the surrounding region, regional instability and rapidly developing technologies, Tatlıoğlu said the security environment and the nature of military operations were changing. Lessons from current conflicts show that low-cost unmanned systems, quickly developed and adapted for different missions, can produce significant military results, Tatlıoğlu said, adding that such systems are planned for use in strengthening situational awareness, operational effectiveness and deterrence at sea.

Mine threats and future platforms

Tatlıoğlu said unmanned systems allow longer surveillance over wide operating areas, information gathering from more points and reduced risk to personnel on dangerous tasks. In areas with a mine threat, they let crews and ships operate while staying clear of danger, Tatlıoğlu said, noting that hundreds of mines spilled into the Black Sea as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war and that some drift toward Turkish shores. "We detect and destroy these mines," Tatlıoğlu said, adding that unmanned vehicles are used to the maximum extent in that work.

Tatlıoğlu said the priority is to develop reliable, sustainable systems that operate with different platforms and meet operational needs, and that unmanned and autonomous systems are being added to the inventory quickly. The navy aims to gain a voice in subsurface operations by bringing unmanned underwater vehicles and unmanned mini-submarines into service, Tatlıoğlu said.

Platforms under construction, including the national aircraft carrier, the Tepe-class destroyer and the new-generation mine countermeasures vessel, are being designed for hybrid operations with unmanned systems, Tatlıoğlu said. The national aircraft carrier, due to meet the sea next year, will carry unmanned aerial vehicles as well as unmanned surface vehicles, unmanned boats and unmanned underwater vehicles, making it the first aircraft carrier designed to use unmanned systems together, Tatlıoğlu said.

Key takeaways

• The TURNAs-2026 Distinguished Observer Day was held off Sarısu Beach in Antalya with 18 ships, 11 aircraft and 1,300 personnel.
• A kamikaze unmanned surface vehicle and an FPV drone were destroyed by the TOLGA close-in air defence system aboard TCG BEYKOZ.
• Seventeen companies took part with 41 systems, testing hybrid use of unmanned and manned platforms in maritime operations.
• Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu described TURNAs-2026 as a historic exercise and a rehearsal of future naval warfare.