Türkiye launched the most extensive naval exercise in its history: Denizkurdu-II/2025. Over the span of 12 days, this ambitious operation will unfold across the Black Sea, Marmara, Aegean, and Eastern Mediterranean, under the command of a 93-person control center based in Gölcük. This drill, unprecedented in both scale and sophistication, reflects a pivotal moment in the evolution of Türkiye’s maritime doctrine, technological ambition, and regional strategic posture.
The launch briefing featured a high-level lineup of commanders, including Admiral Kadir Yıldız and Rear Admirals Rüştü Sezer, Gürsel Eser, Serkan Türkkan, Ali Özturşucu, and Erdinç Korkut. Their presence signaled the exercise’s elevated position within Türkiye’s military agenda and underscored the political-military weight behind the operation.
A centerpiece of Denizkurdu-II/2025 is its live-fire component, encompassing legacy and next-generation systems. The ATMACA anti-ship missile—developed by Roketsan and powered by a domestically produced Kale jet engine—will be fired in real combat simulations. Additionally, the SM-1 missile, a remnant of older U.S. stockpiles, will be launched against high-speed aerial drones, offering a contrast between inherited capability and new indigenous precision.
In total, 120 naval platforms are mobilized: 104 surface ships, 6 submarines, and 52 manned and unmanned aerial vehicles. Approximately 85 aerial sorties are planned, with air-to-ground strikes simulating complex maritime and coastal scenarios. Port visits to Turkish Cypriot and Eastern Mediterranean ports further enhance strategic visibility and project influence under the guiding principle of “Mavi Vatan” or “Blue Homeland.”
The inclusion of elite naval commando units SAT (Underwater Offense) and SAS (Underwater Defense) brings added operational depth. These units will execute amphibious landings, sabotage operations, coastal defense scenarios, and undersea warfare simulations. This element highlights a full-spectrum warfighting approach that integrates unconventional tactics into conventional operations.
The amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu will serve as the primary launch platform for the Bayraktar TB-3 UAV—a pivotal move marking the first deployment of ship-based unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) in Türkiye’s naval history. With vertical takeoff and landing capability tailored for deck operations, the TB-3 represents a leap forward in unmanned systems integration and force projection.
This synergy between air and naval assets not only boosts real-time surveillance and strike capability but demonstrates the growing interdependence of Türkiye’s indigenous defense industry actors such as Baykar, Aselsan, and Roketsan. This integration is essential to achieving full operational independence from foreign suppliers.
The exercise marks a decisive pivot in Türkiye’s naval doctrine. While SM-1 missiles and ex-U.S. Perry-class frigates remain in operation, their roles are increasingly symbolic. Their presence demonstrates continued NATO interoperability, yet Turkish military priorities now emphasize sovereign capability.
ATMACA, designed to replace the U.S.-made Harpoon, offers a 220+ km range, sea-skimming ability, and electronic warfare resistance. Recent tests, including its April 2025 submarine launch, reflect a maturing platform ready for high-threat environments. Compared to systems like the Exocet or Kalibr, ATMACA presents an indigenous answer to high-stakes maritime deterrence.
Other Turkish-produced munitions—MAM-T, Cirit, and TEMREN—underscore the increased role of smart munitions in naval tactics. These are employed by both UAVs and surface vessels, enabling pinpoint strikes in complex littoral zones.
Denizkurdu-II/2025 unfolds against the backdrop of intensifying geopolitical tension. Greek-Turkish disputes in the Aegean, Cyprus-related friction, and post-war uncertainty in the Black Sea all factor into the exercise’s strategic calculus. Port visits, live-fire displays, and the sheer scale of deployment send a deliberate message: Türkiye is no longer content with a reactive maritime role.
Under the Blue Homeland doctrine, Ankara asserts its right to shape maritime security dynamics. This doctrine blends defense of sovereign waters with proactive regional presence. Denizkurdu reflects that shift: it is not just an exercise, but an articulation of deterrent capability and national will.
Participation from land, air, and internal security forces (Gendarmerie, Coast Guard) underlines Türkiye’s commitment to multi-domain operations. This approach aligns with NATO doctrine but is increasingly defined on Ankara’s own terms. Türkiye seeks to remain a NATO member while asserting technological, operational, and strategic independence.
Compared to Denizkurdu-2021, this year’s drill marks a 35-40% expansion in assets and scope. Over 90% of the Turkish Navy’s operational fleet is engaged—an extraordinary peacetime mobilization. This includes nearly all amphibious platforms, auxiliary ships, and both manned and unmanned aerial assets.
79 ships are slated for regional port visits. These deployments are not only exercises in diplomacy but visible expressions of presence and operational reach. With adversaries and allies watching, the Turkish Navy is broadcasting its capacity to act swiftly, independently, and at scale.
Rear Admiral Rüştü Sezer, speaking at the Naval Warfare Center Command, provided a detailed briefing on the sortie schedules, missile launches, and joint-force coordination. Public transparency in such high-level operations also contributes to psychological deterrence and national confidence.
The growing role of Türkiye’s defense industry is integral to this exercise. From Roketsan’s missiles to Baykar’s UAVs, and STM’s unmanned maritime systems, the exercise showcases technologies born of local expertise. These are not prototypes—they are battlefield-ready systems employed in complex, high-fidelity war games.
The incorporation of these systems reflects years of accelerated R&D, state-backed funding, and military-industry integration. With global sanctions, arms embargoes, and political constraints in play, domestic production is no longer a strategic luxury but a necessity.
Unmanned surface vehicles, autonomous underwater craft, and AI-supported command systems are also in testing. These platforms represent the next stage of warfare and place Türkiye within a small cadre of nations capable of indigenous autonomous maritime warfare.
Geopolitically, Denizkurdu-II/2025 serves multiple audiences. For NATO, it showcases a capable partner embracing interoperability while advancing indigenous capability. For regional rivals, it is a pointed demonstration of resolve. For domestic audiences, it is a symbol of self-reliance and strategic vision.
The exercise also has implications for regional players like Egypt, Israel, and Cyprus. With naval balance in flux, particularly after recent Eastern Mediterranean energy discoveries, Türkiye’s readiness to defend its claims—through doctrine and deterrence—takes on increased weight.
Even non-littoral NATO states, focused on Black Sea security following the Ukraine war, will assess Denizkurdu as a litmus test of Türkiye’s reliability and capability as a security provider in volatile maritime zones.
Denizkurdu-II/2025 is not just an exercise. It is a declaration. It embodies Türkiye’s aspirations to operate as a fully autonomous, regionally dominant naval power. It signals a break from dependency on legacy systems and a move toward sovereign maritime deterrence.
By mobilizing over 90% of its operational fleet, integrating unmanned and advanced guided systems, and conducting high-risk live-fire scenarios, Türkiye is making its intentions clear. This is a force ready not just to defend its coasts but to shape its maritime surroundings.
