UCAV developments dovetail with evolving Turkish Navy operational concepts
Bayraktar TB2 dropping MAM-L. (Photo: Baykar)
Progress in domestic UAV production is aiding efforts by the Turkish Navy to develop CONOPS involving UCAVs.
The navy first applied a form of manned-unmanned teaming in March during the Blue Homeland exercise, when a Bayraktar TB2 UCAV hit a training target with MAM-L smart micromunition from the maximum range (15km).
This was the first time the Turkish Navy used a UCAV to hit a sea target in close cooperation with crewed assets.
Another guided-munition test firing occurred in the Black Sea on 25 April, involving an Aksungur MALE UCAV from Turkish Aerospace Industries.

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