Italy and Türkiye offer new version of TB3 drone with Kemankes-1 missile for carrier-based operations
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On June 16, 2025, Baykar’s carrier-capable UCAV Bayraktar TB3, developed under the joint venture LBA Systems with Italy’s Leonardo, was unveiled with a full loadout of Turkish weaponry at the Paris Air Show, including the striking presence of the new Kemankes cruise missile. This presentation marked the first public confirmation that production of the TB3 will begin in Italy and that the system will undergo test campaigns on Italian Navy aircraft carriers, a move personally announced by Selçuk Bayraktar and Roberto Cingolani during a joint press briefing. This development strengthens the platform’s position as a cornerstone of future European naval air power.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The presentation of the Bayraktar TB3 under LBA Systems at the Paris Air Show was more than a technological showcase, it was a political signal. By confirming Italian production and carrier testing, Baykar and Leonardo laid the foundation for a future where NATO navies may rely on a versatile, combat-proven UCAV developed through joint European-Turkish industrial ties (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The Bayraktar TB3 is a foldable-wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) tailored for takeoff and landing on short-deck aircraft carriers. As a successor to the widely exported TB2, it significantly expands capabilities with a maximum takeoff weight above 1,400 kg and a payload capacity exceeding 280 kg. Designed with full maritime operability, the TB3 integrates NATO-standard Mode 5 IFF systems, encrypted multi-service communication, a high-definition EO/IR targeting suite, and electronic warfare decoys. At Le Bourget, the drone was showcased with various Roketsan munitions, most notably the stealthy subsonic Kemankes loitering cruise missile, highlighting its long-range strike potential from sea-based platforms.
The TB3’s development stems from Türkiye’s effort to provide the TCG Anadolu with fixed-wing UCAV capability, having completed comprehensive testing on Turkish Navy decks since late 2023. Building on that experience, the drone is now entering a new phase through industrial cooperation with Leonardo, under the LBA Systems banner. Selçuk Bayraktar emphasized that testing aboard Italy’s ITS Cavour and LHD Trieste will accelerate NATO interoperability. According to Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani, the certification phase in Italy is expected to conclude in 2026, thanks to the drone’s already mature flight envelope and carrier qualification profile.
The TB3’s primary competitive advantage lies in its unique combination of naval deployability, high endurance (ranging between 21 and 32 hours), and modularity. Unlike most Western carrier-launched UAVs still in early prototype stages, TB3 has already completed operational takeoff and landing trials and integrates a diverse payload portfolio, from precision-guided bombs to smart cruise missiles. Compared to platforms like the U.S. MQ-25 Stingray, which focuses on refueling missions, or France’s SDAM still under development, the TB3 offers multi-role functionality in a deployable and export-ready form, especially suited for medium-sized navies.
Strategically, the deployment of the TB3 aboard both Turkish and Italian carriers may reshape the UCAV landscape in Europe by enabling allied maritime forces to deploy persistent ISR and strike capabilities without the political and cost constraints of manned jets. It reinforces Türkiye’s emergence as a drone power while signaling a deepening industrial cooperation between Ankara and Rome. Politically, this joint production effort provides an alternative to U.S.-dominated UAV markets and aligns with broader European defense autonomy ambitions. Militarily, it delivers a high-endurance, precision-capable UCAV directly to NATO’s maritime flanks.
Though Baykar has not released a detailed budget for the TB3 program, its cost-efficiency is widely praised due to its composite airframe and scaled production model inherited from the TB2 line. The platform already benefits from firm Turkish defense procurement, with additional orders expected as testing continues on Italian vessels. The LBA Systems venture could also lead to broader export contracts within NATO and beyond, especially for countries operating helicopter or STOBAR carriers.
The presentation of the Bayraktar TB3 under LBA Systems at the Paris Air Show was more than a technological showcase, it was a political signal. By confirming Italian production and carrier testing, Baykar and Leonardo laid the foundation for a future where NATO navies may rely on a versatile, combat-proven UCAV developed through joint European-Turkish industrial ties. The Kemankes missile under its wing did not just represent firepower, but strategic reach from any sea.
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On June 16, 2025, Baykar’s carrier-capable UCAV Bayraktar TB3, developed under the joint venture LBA Systems with Italy’s Leonardo, was unveiled with a full loadout of Turkish weaponry at the Paris Air Show, including the striking presence of the new Kemankes cruise missile. This presentation marked the first public confirmation that production of the TB3 will begin in Italy and that the system will undergo test campaigns on Italian Navy aircraft carriers, a move personally announced by Selçuk Bayraktar and Roberto Cingolani during a joint press briefing. This development strengthens the platform’s position as a cornerstone of future European naval air power.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The presentation of the Bayraktar TB3 under LBA Systems at the Paris Air Show was more than a technological showcase, it was a political signal. By confirming Italian production and carrier testing, Baykar and Leonardo laid the foundation for a future where NATO navies may rely on a versatile, combat-proven UCAV developed through joint European-Turkish industrial ties (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The Bayraktar TB3 is a foldable-wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) tailored for takeoff and landing on short-deck aircraft carriers. As a successor to the widely exported TB2, it significantly expands capabilities with a maximum takeoff weight above 1,400 kg and a payload capacity exceeding 280 kg. Designed with full maritime operability, the TB3 integrates NATO-standard Mode 5 IFF systems, encrypted multi-service communication, a high-definition EO/IR targeting suite, and electronic warfare decoys. At Le Bourget, the drone was showcased with various Roketsan munitions, most notably the stealthy subsonic Kemankes loitering cruise missile, highlighting its long-range strike potential from sea-based platforms.
The TB3’s development stems from Türkiye’s effort to provide the TCG Anadolu with fixed-wing UCAV capability, having completed comprehensive testing on Turkish Navy decks since late 2023. Building on that experience, the drone is now entering a new phase through industrial cooperation with Leonardo, under the LBA Systems banner. Selçuk Bayraktar emphasized that testing aboard Italy’s ITS Cavour and LHD Trieste will accelerate NATO interoperability. According to Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani, the certification phase in Italy is expected to conclude in 2026, thanks to the drone’s already mature flight envelope and carrier qualification profile.
The TB3’s primary competitive advantage lies in its unique combination of naval deployability, high endurance (ranging between 21 and 32 hours), and modularity. Unlike most Western carrier-launched UAVs still in early prototype stages, TB3 has already completed operational takeoff and landing trials and integrates a diverse payload portfolio, from precision-guided bombs to smart cruise missiles. Compared to platforms like the U.S. MQ-25 Stingray, which focuses on refueling missions, or France’s SDAM still under development, the TB3 offers multi-role functionality in a deployable and export-ready form, especially suited for medium-sized navies.
Strategically, the deployment of the TB3 aboard both Turkish and Italian carriers may reshape the UCAV landscape in Europe by enabling allied maritime forces to deploy persistent ISR and strike capabilities without the political and cost constraints of manned jets. It reinforces Türkiye’s emergence as a drone power while signaling a deepening industrial cooperation between Ankara and Rome. Politically, this joint production effort provides an alternative to U.S.-dominated UAV markets and aligns with broader European defense autonomy ambitions. Militarily, it delivers a high-endurance, precision-capable UCAV directly to NATO’s maritime flanks.
Though Baykar has not released a detailed budget for the TB3 program, its cost-efficiency is widely praised due to its composite airframe and scaled production model inherited from the TB2 line. The platform already benefits from firm Turkish defense procurement, with additional orders expected as testing continues on Italian vessels. The LBA Systems venture could also lead to broader export contracts within NATO and beyond, especially for countries operating helicopter or STOBAR carriers.
The presentation of the Bayraktar TB3 under LBA Systems at the Paris Air Show was more than a technological showcase, it was a political signal. By confirming Italian production and carrier testing, Baykar and Leonardo laid the foundation for a future where NATO navies may rely on a versatile, combat-proven UCAV developed through joint European-Turkish industrial ties. The Kemankes missile under its wing did not just represent firepower, but strategic reach from any sea.
