Baykar’s TB3 Drone Shows Impressive Precision With MAM-L Smart Guided Munition Test
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Türkiye’s Bayraktar TB3 UCAV carried out a live firing sequence with three Roketsan MAM-L TV/IIR munitions, each scoring a confirmed hit on the target. The test highlights the rapid maturation of Türkiye’s naval drone strike capability as the TB3 moves closer to routine operations from TCG Anadolu.
On 15 November 2025, the Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) with wing designation PT-1R conducted a live-firing campaign using Roketsan’s MAM-L smart micro munitions. In this test, three TV/IIR-guided MAM-L weapons were released in sequence, each scoring a direct hit on the designated target and confirming “bull’s eye” performance for the load-out. The event was recorded in flight by a Bayraktar TB2 operating as an overwatch and sensor platform, underlining the maturing concept of cooperative drone formations at sea and over littoral areas. Coming after a series of carrier and weapons trials on board the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, this new firing confirms that Türkiye’s naval drone architecture is transitioning from experimentation to a coherent operational capability, as reported by Baykar.
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The Bayraktar TB3 is a carrier-capable unmanned combat aerial vehicle designed for naval strike missions, armed with Roketsan’s MAM-L precision-guided munition that delivers high accuracy against armored and soft targets from standoff range (Picture Source: Baykar)
In the 15 November test, the TB3 PT-1R flew a profile representative of carrier-based operations and released three MAM-L TV/IIR munitions in close succession against a single target area, demonstrating salvo employment and guidance reliability under realistic conditions. According to Baykar’s previously published information, the TB3 is a carrier-capable medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UCAV with a maximum take-off weight of around 1,450 kg and a payload capacity of approximately 280 kg distributed over six hardpoints, allowing it to carry combinations of MAM-C, MAM-L, MAM-T and other guided weapons. The use of the TV/IIR variant of MAM-L, which combines imaging infrared guidance with a data link and extended range, builds on the baseline semi-active laser (SAL) version that weighs about 22 kg, has a length of 0.95 m and offers engagement ranges up to roughly 15 km, extendable beyond that with enhanced navigation options.
The TB2 that recorded the live firing served more than a documentary role and highlighted the advancing sophistication of coordinated drone tactics. Acting as an overwatch and sensor node it reinforced concepts proven in earlier trials where TB2s supplied laser designation for TB3 launched munitions thereby validating a layered unmanned strike package that pairs long endurance surveillance with heavy strike platforms. The TB3 and MAM-L pairing reflects parallel long term development across Türkiye’s unmanned aviation and guided munition sectors. Baykar engineered the TB3 from the proven TB2 lineage but rebuilt it for naval operations with folding wings reinforced landing gear and a propulsion package tuned for short take off and recovery from sea based platforms such as TCG Anadolu which has been developed as the world’s first UCAV oriented drone carrier.
Since its first flight in October 2023, TB3 has undergone an intensive test program, including ski-jump ramp trials, deck operations on TCG Anadolu in late 2024, and multiple live firings in 2025 with Roketsan’s UAV-122 supersonic missile and MAM-T guided munitions during major naval exercises. Meanwhile, Roketsan’s MAM family, first fielded in the mid-2010s for lightweight UAVs, has matured into a modular line with various warheads and precision guidance options, capable of striking armored vehicles, radars, fortifications, and dispersed targets. The TB3–MAM-L combination mirrors developments like the MQ-9 Reaper with Hellfire or Paveway weapons, though TB3 was navalized from the outset rather than adapted later, unlike current MQ-9B STOL and Mojave concepts for carrier use.
In operational terms, the MAM-L TV/IIR tests on TB3 underline several advantages over earlier configurations. First, the use of imaging infrared and TV guidance, combined with a data link, enhances target discrimination and engagement flexibility, particularly in complex littoral environments where visual clutter and adverse weather can degrade pure laser guidance. Second, a triple-weapon release with all munitions achieving bulls-eye hits suggests that the fire-control algorithms, stores management system and aerodynamic integration on TB3 have reached a level of maturity compatible with regular carrier operations, including salvo attacks against clustered or hardened targets. Third, the ability to integrate TB3 with TB2 as a persistent ISR and laser-designation platform, something already validated in previous TB3 live-fire exercises, creates a distributed “sensor–shooter web” in which multiple unmanned aircraft share roles and manage the engagement chain collectively, rather than relying on a single platform.
Compared with land-based TB2 operations or even traditional UCAV employment from fixed airbases, launching precision munitions like MAM-L from a shipborne TB3 extends the radius of action deep into contested maritime zones while preserving a relatively low logistical and financial footprint when set against manned carrier aviation. The strategic implications of this iterative progression are significant for Türkiye and for navies observing the concept of drone carriers worldwide. Within the framework of the “Blue Homeland” (Mavi Vatan) doctrine, which places maritime sovereignty and sea control at the center of national strategy, TCG Anadolu and its TB3/Kızılelma air wing are intended to provide persistent ISR and precision strike options across the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Sea, as well as further afield.
By combining TB3 with MAM-L, Roketsan and Baykar are effectively fielding a scalable shipborne strike package that can handle low- to medium-intensity scenarios such as coastal interdiction, protection of offshore infrastructure, support to amphibious operations and denial of narrow sea lanes, while freeing high-end manned assets for more demanding tasks. At the same time, the export trajectory of TB3, notably the agreement to supply and co-produce 60 TB3s with Indonesia, shows that this architecture is not confined to the Eastern Mediterranean: it is becoming a reference model for middle powers seeking cost-effective, survivable naval air capabilities without investing in full-size aircraft carriers. When viewed alongside US and UK trials of STOL-capable MQ-9B and Mojave drones from amphibious ships and carriers, the 15 November PT-1R firing with MAM-L confirms that carrier-capable UCAVs are moving from the experimental stage towards structured force integration, with implications for alliance planning, regional balances of power and the evolution of naval air doctrines.
The triple MAM-L TV/IIR engagement by Bayraktar TB3 PT-1R, its recording and support by a TB2, and the broader test campaign from TCG Anadolu signal that Türkiye’s unmanned naval aviation is entering a new phase in which precision-guided strikes from carrier-capable drones become a routine tool of state power. Rather than an isolated technical milestone, the 15 November 2025 firing consolidates a maturation process that spans airframe design, munition development, ship integration and export partnerships, positioning the TB3–MAM-L pairing as a central element of Türkiye’s maritime strategy and as a benchmark for other navies exploring similar concepts of drone-centric sea control.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
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Türkiye’s Bayraktar TB3 UCAV carried out a live firing sequence with three Roketsan MAM-L TV/IIR munitions, each scoring a confirmed hit on the target. The test highlights the rapid maturation of Türkiye’s naval drone strike capability as the TB3 moves closer to routine operations from TCG Anadolu.
On 15 November 2025, the Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) with wing designation PT-1R conducted a live-firing campaign using Roketsan’s MAM-L smart micro munitions. In this test, three TV/IIR-guided MAM-L weapons were released in sequence, each scoring a direct hit on the designated target and confirming “bull’s eye” performance for the load-out. The event was recorded in flight by a Bayraktar TB2 operating as an overwatch and sensor platform, underlining the maturing concept of cooperative drone formations at sea and over littoral areas. Coming after a series of carrier and weapons trials on board the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, this new firing confirms that Türkiye’s naval drone architecture is transitioning from experimentation to a coherent operational capability, as reported by Baykar.
The Bayraktar TB3 is a carrier-capable unmanned combat aerial vehicle designed for naval strike missions, armed with Roketsan’s MAM-L precision-guided munition that delivers high accuracy against armored and soft targets from standoff range (Picture Source: Baykar)
In the 15 November test, the TB3 PT-1R flew a profile representative of carrier-based operations and released three MAM-L TV/IIR munitions in close succession against a single target area, demonstrating salvo employment and guidance reliability under realistic conditions. According to Baykar’s previously published information, the TB3 is a carrier-capable medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UCAV with a maximum take-off weight of around 1,450 kg and a payload capacity of approximately 280 kg distributed over six hardpoints, allowing it to carry combinations of MAM-C, MAM-L, MAM-T and other guided weapons. The use of the TV/IIR variant of MAM-L, which combines imaging infrared guidance with a data link and extended range, builds on the baseline semi-active laser (SAL) version that weighs about 22 kg, has a length of 0.95 m and offers engagement ranges up to roughly 15 km, extendable beyond that with enhanced navigation options.
The TB2 that recorded the live firing served more than a documentary role and highlighted the advancing sophistication of coordinated drone tactics. Acting as an overwatch and sensor node it reinforced concepts proven in earlier trials where TB2s supplied laser designation for TB3 launched munitions thereby validating a layered unmanned strike package that pairs long endurance surveillance with heavy strike platforms. The TB3 and MAM-L pairing reflects parallel long term development across Türkiye’s unmanned aviation and guided munition sectors. Baykar engineered the TB3 from the proven TB2 lineage but rebuilt it for naval operations with folding wings reinforced landing gear and a propulsion package tuned for short take off and recovery from sea based platforms such as TCG Anadolu which has been developed as the world’s first UCAV oriented drone carrier.
Since its first flight in October 2023, TB3 has undergone an intensive test program, including ski-jump ramp trials, deck operations on TCG Anadolu in late 2024, and multiple live firings in 2025 with Roketsan’s UAV-122 supersonic missile and MAM-T guided munitions during major naval exercises. Meanwhile, Roketsan’s MAM family, first fielded in the mid-2010s for lightweight UAVs, has matured into a modular line with various warheads and precision guidance options, capable of striking armored vehicles, radars, fortifications, and dispersed targets. The TB3–MAM-L combination mirrors developments like the MQ-9 Reaper with Hellfire or Paveway weapons, though TB3 was navalized from the outset rather than adapted later, unlike current MQ-9B STOL and Mojave concepts for carrier use.
In operational terms, the MAM-L TV/IIR tests on TB3 underline several advantages over earlier configurations. First, the use of imaging infrared and TV guidance, combined with a data link, enhances target discrimination and engagement flexibility, particularly in complex littoral environments where visual clutter and adverse weather can degrade pure laser guidance. Second, a triple-weapon release with all munitions achieving bulls-eye hits suggests that the fire-control algorithms, stores management system and aerodynamic integration on TB3 have reached a level of maturity compatible with regular carrier operations, including salvo attacks against clustered or hardened targets. Third, the ability to integrate TB3 with TB2 as a persistent ISR and laser-designation platform, something already validated in previous TB3 live-fire exercises, creates a distributed “sensor–shooter web” in which multiple unmanned aircraft share roles and manage the engagement chain collectively, rather than relying on a single platform.
Compared with land-based TB2 operations or even traditional UCAV employment from fixed airbases, launching precision munitions like MAM-L from a shipborne TB3 extends the radius of action deep into contested maritime zones while preserving a relatively low logistical and financial footprint when set against manned carrier aviation. The strategic implications of this iterative progression are significant for Türkiye and for navies observing the concept of drone carriers worldwide. Within the framework of the “Blue Homeland” (Mavi Vatan) doctrine, which places maritime sovereignty and sea control at the center of national strategy, TCG Anadolu and its TB3/Kızılelma air wing are intended to provide persistent ISR and precision strike options across the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Sea, as well as further afield.
By combining TB3 with MAM-L, Roketsan and Baykar are effectively fielding a scalable shipborne strike package that can handle low- to medium-intensity scenarios such as coastal interdiction, protection of offshore infrastructure, support to amphibious operations and denial of narrow sea lanes, while freeing high-end manned assets for more demanding tasks. At the same time, the export trajectory of TB3, notably the agreement to supply and co-produce 60 TB3s with Indonesia, shows that this architecture is not confined to the Eastern Mediterranean: it is becoming a reference model for middle powers seeking cost-effective, survivable naval air capabilities without investing in full-size aircraft carriers. When viewed alongside US and UK trials of STOL-capable MQ-9B and Mojave drones from amphibious ships and carriers, the 15 November PT-1R firing with MAM-L confirms that carrier-capable UCAVs are moving from the experimental stage towards structured force integration, with implications for alliance planning, regional balances of power and the evolution of naval air doctrines.
The triple MAM-L TV/IIR engagement by Bayraktar TB3 PT-1R, its recording and support by a TB2, and the broader test campaign from TCG Anadolu signal that Türkiye’s unmanned naval aviation is entering a new phase in which precision-guided strikes from carrier-capable drones become a routine tool of state power. Rather than an isolated technical milestone, the 15 November 2025 firing consolidates a maturation process that spans airframe design, munition development, ship integration and export partnerships, positioning the TB3–MAM-L pairing as a central element of Türkiye’s maritime strategy and as a benchmark for other navies exploring similar concepts of drone-centric sea control.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
