Baykar’s TB3 Drone Launches Kemankes-1 AI Loitering Munition Extending Türkiye’s Long-Range Maritime Strike Reach
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On August 8, 2025, Baykar announced a key milestone in Türkiye’s unmanned combat aviation program, reporting that its Bayraktar TB3 naval UCAV had launched the AI-powered KEMANKEŞ 1 jet-propelled loitering munition in a successful live-fire test, hitting its target with precision. This integration marks a significant leap in Türkiye’s ability to conduct stand-off maritime and coastal strike operations, extending reach against sensitive and high-value targets while reducing exposure to enemy air defenses. It is a development with clear operational and strategic implications for Türkiye’s naval power projection and, by extension, NATO’s regional capabilities.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The TB3–KEMANKEŞ 1 pairing allows the TCG Anadolu and similar platforms to conduct deep precision strikes without approaching enemy coastal defenses, a tactic essential in A2/AD (anti-access/area denial) environment (Picture source: Baykar)
The Bayraktar TB3 is the maritime-optimized evolution of the combat-proven TB2, featuring foldable wings for operations from short runways and platforms like the TCG Anadolu LHD. With an endurance of 21–32 hours and proven performance in exercises such as Denizkurdu, the TB3 is designed to sustain persistent ISR and strike missions in contested maritime environments. It can carry a variety of guided munitions, including the MAM-L, MAM-T, UAV-122 aeroballistic missile, and now the KEMANKEŞ 1, which significantly enhances its reach.
The KEMANKEŞ 1 is a jet-powered, AI-assisted loitering munition with a stand-off range exceeding 100 km when deployed from TB3, extending to over 200 km in certain configurations. It features an autonomous flight control system, anti-jamming resilience, real-time video link for target identification and ISR, and a highly destructive warhead. Optimized for both land and sea targets, including enemy radars and mobile systems, it also has capabilities against aerial threats such as hostile drones.
The development of both systems has been characterized by an iterative testing campaign. The TB3 has undergone more than 100 takeoff and landing cycles from TCG Anadolu, demonstrating the ability to land without arresting gear. Munition integration trials included MAM-L releases from the ship, UAV-122 missile firings at multiple altitudes, and the latest KEMANKEŞ 1 firing and visual dive test with ammunition.
This recent test marked the first officially announced launch of KEMANKEŞ 1 from TB3, following earlier KEMANKEŞ trials with the AKINCI TİHA platform. The munition’s precision in a live warhead engagement confirmed its suitability for stand-off strikes in support of amphibious and littoral operations. The combination mirrors the evolution of other naval UAV–loitering munition pairings seen in advanced navies, such as the US Navy’s MQ-8 Fire Scout with precision-guided weapons, but with a greater emphasis on affordable, indigenous, and shipborne deployment.
Operationally, this integration represents a major force multiplier for Türkiye’s navy. The TB3–KEMANKEŞ 1 pairing allows the TCG Anadolu and similar platforms to conduct deep precision strikes without approaching enemy coastal defenses, a tactic essential in A2/AD (anti-access/area denial) environments. Strategically, it bolsters NATO’s maritime posture in the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Sea, enhancing deterrence and giving commanders more flexible strike options without risking manned aircraft. The AI-guided targeting and anti-jamming resilience also ensure that the capability remains effective in heavily contested electronic warfare environments, which are increasingly common in modern conflicts.
By enabling shipborne UAVs to deliver long-range precision effects, Türkiye has positioned itself at the forefront of naval unmanned strike integration. The TB3–KEMANKEŞ 1 combination not only expands the reach and survivability of the nation’s naval forces but also sets a precedent for future NATO maritime operations in contested theaters. This milestone underscores a shift toward versatile, autonomous, and persistent aerial assets capable of reshaping the dynamics of modern naval warfare.
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On August 8, 2025, Baykar announced a key milestone in Türkiye’s unmanned combat aviation program, reporting that its Bayraktar TB3 naval UCAV had launched the AI-powered KEMANKEŞ 1 jet-propelled loitering munition in a successful live-fire test, hitting its target with precision. This integration marks a significant leap in Türkiye’s ability to conduct stand-off maritime and coastal strike operations, extending reach against sensitive and high-value targets while reducing exposure to enemy air defenses. It is a development with clear operational and strategic implications for Türkiye’s naval power projection and, by extension, NATO’s regional capabilities.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The TB3–KEMANKEŞ 1 pairing allows the TCG Anadolu and similar platforms to conduct deep precision strikes without approaching enemy coastal defenses, a tactic essential in A2/AD (anti-access/area denial) environment (Picture source: Baykar)
The Bayraktar TB3 is the maritime-optimized evolution of the combat-proven TB2, featuring foldable wings for operations from short runways and platforms like the TCG Anadolu LHD. With an endurance of 21–32 hours and proven performance in exercises such as Denizkurdu, the TB3 is designed to sustain persistent ISR and strike missions in contested maritime environments. It can carry a variety of guided munitions, including the MAM-L, MAM-T, UAV-122 aeroballistic missile, and now the KEMANKEŞ 1, which significantly enhances its reach.
The KEMANKEŞ 1 is a jet-powered, AI-assisted loitering munition with a stand-off range exceeding 100 km when deployed from TB3, extending to over 200 km in certain configurations. It features an autonomous flight control system, anti-jamming resilience, real-time video link for target identification and ISR, and a highly destructive warhead. Optimized for both land and sea targets, including enemy radars and mobile systems, it also has capabilities against aerial threats such as hostile drones.
The development of both systems has been characterized by an iterative testing campaign. The TB3 has undergone more than 100 takeoff and landing cycles from TCG Anadolu, demonstrating the ability to land without arresting gear. Munition integration trials included MAM-L releases from the ship, UAV-122 missile firings at multiple altitudes, and the latest KEMANKEŞ 1 firing and visual dive test with ammunition.
This recent test marked the first officially announced launch of KEMANKEŞ 1 from TB3, following earlier KEMANKEŞ trials with the AKINCI TİHA platform. The munition’s precision in a live warhead engagement confirmed its suitability for stand-off strikes in support of amphibious and littoral operations. The combination mirrors the evolution of other naval UAV–loitering munition pairings seen in advanced navies, such as the US Navy’s MQ-8 Fire Scout with precision-guided weapons, but with a greater emphasis on affordable, indigenous, and shipborne deployment.
Operationally, this integration represents a major force multiplier for Türkiye’s navy. The TB3–KEMANKEŞ 1 pairing allows the TCG Anadolu and similar platforms to conduct deep precision strikes without approaching enemy coastal defenses, a tactic essential in A2/AD (anti-access/area denial) environments. Strategically, it bolsters NATO’s maritime posture in the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Sea, enhancing deterrence and giving commanders more flexible strike options without risking manned aircraft. The AI-guided targeting and anti-jamming resilience also ensure that the capability remains effective in heavily contested electronic warfare environments, which are increasingly common in modern conflicts.
By enabling shipborne UAVs to deliver long-range precision effects, Türkiye has positioned itself at the forefront of naval unmanned strike integration. The TB3–KEMANKEŞ 1 combination not only expands the reach and survivability of the nation’s naval forces but also sets a precedent for future NATO maritime operations in contested theaters. This milestone underscores a shift toward versatile, autonomous, and persistent aerial assets capable of reshaping the dynamics of modern naval warfare.
