Making its first visit to The Netherlands last February was Turkish Navy helicopter carrier TCG Anadolu (L400). Together with frigates TCG Istanbul (F515) and TCG Oruçreis (F245) and the logistic supply ship TCG Derya (A1590) it spent 4 days in the harbour of Rotterdam before continuing its journey.
The ships arrived after participating in NATO’s defensive exercise Steadfast Dart 2026, that was held in Northern Europe. Host was Germany under NATO’s Joint Force Command Brunssum and some 10.000 troops from 13 countries participated. Notably the United States wasn’t one of those countries, which according to some observers indicated that NATO was testing their independency from the USA. Goal of the exercise was validating the newly established Allied Reaction Force’s (ARF) rapid reinforcement capabilities across land, sea, air, space and cyber domains. More specifically, aim was testing a rapid move of combat power from Southern Europe to the Baltic region by sea, land and air. Next to the 10.000 personnel over 1.500 vehicles and 17 ships were involved in this move plus multiple helicopters from Italy, Spain and Turkey. What made this exercise different from others is that it was not based on a fictitious scenario; the rapid deployment of the Allied Reaction Force was exercised the same way it would be conducted in the event of an immediate threat to NATO’s external borders.
A large part of the amphibious capability was provided by the Turkish Amphibious Task Group centred around TCG Anadolu. This amphibious assault ship, that was only commissioned in 2023, is 232 m long and has a ski-jump ramp for small aircraft and drones. It can take up to 30 helicopters or up to 50 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) or combat drones plus a large amount of tracked amphibious assault vehicles. The two main helicopter types the Anadolu currently carries are the Sikorsky S-70B Sea Hawk and the Bell AH-1W Super Cobra, while the indigenous developed Bayraktar TB-3 drone is the UCAV of choice. And next to these naval assets, there is also cooperation with the Turkish Land Forces, who regularly deploy their AS.532 Cougar helicopters on the ship.
Interesting detail regarding the TCG Anadolu is that the intention was to base F-35 Lightning II aircraft on the ship. But when the USA banned Turkey from the F-35 programme (after Ankara bought Russian made S-400 air defence missiles) things had to change, and instead the Anadolu was built as Landing Helicopter Dock or LHD. And after the decision was made to also base UCAVs on it, the TCG Anadolu became the world’s first operational drone carrier.
The Sikorsky S-70B Sea Hawk, the maritime version of the well-known UH-60 Black Hawk, has a multitude of roles, depending on the mission of the ship. It carries out anti-submarine missions, for which it is equipped with a dipping sonar, but can also do MEDEVAC and transport of special forces, including fastroping them down to other ships or land. It is also used for reconnaissance and Search and Rescue (SAR). The Türk Deniz Kuvvetleri (Turkish Navy) received 26 Sea Hawks starting in 2002, and the type forms the backbone of the helicopter part of the Turkish Navy Aviation Command. The fleet is operated by two squadrons, 351 and 352 Deniz Helikopter Filo Komutanlığı, who if not on board of a ship are based at respectively Topel and Dalaman naval bases. During its recent cruise the TCG Anadolu had one S-70 on board and both accompanying frigates each also carried one.
During Steadfast Dart the TCG Anadolu furthermore carried three AH-1W Super Cobras. These helicopters were delivered to the Türk Kara Havacılık Komutanlığı (Turkish Army Aviation) in 1990, but the remaining 10 were transferred to the Turkish Navy in 2022. Operator is 353 Deniz Taarruz Helikopter Filo at Topel naval base. The Super Cobras are used for Close Air Support (CAS), giving cover during all kinds of operations with special forces including the amphibious landings that were done during Steadfast Dart. Plans are to replace the AH-1s in the near future with the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) T-929 ATAK II helicopter, that is currently being developed as successor of the TAI T-129 ATAK.
The Bayraktar TB-3 drone was developed by the Turkish Navy together with Baykar, the (especially since the war in the Ukraine) famous drone builder. It is based on the TB-2 but has been designed specifically for operating from the short runway of the Anadolu, requiring neither catapults nor arresting wires. In November 2024 for the first time a TB-3 landed on the Anadolu, and by now it is a regular asset on the ship. Main roles of the TB-3 are reconnaissance and attack, for which it can be armed with rockets. It can fly non-stop for more than 24 hours and has a maximum speed of some 300 km/h. The drone control station is on board of the ship. The Navy and Baykar are also working on the Kızılelma, a jet-propelled stealth fighter drone that should be able to perform dogfights. Intention is to base these on the TCG Anadolu as well in the near future.
For Steadfast Dart 2026 also three AS.532UL Cougars of the Turkish Army deployed on the Anadolu. These were mainly used to transport and drop off large groups of special forces.
As part of the exercise a TB-3 drone flew an autonomous mission taking off and returning to the TCG Anadolu during which it successfully destroyed a floating target with two Roketsan MAM-L precision-guided bombs, which was a first in NATO history. Also a long endurance mission was flown along the German, Danish and Polish coastline by a TB-3 while at some stages being accompanied by German Eurofighter EF.2000’s, showing the concept of so-called Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T). Thanks to a Long-Range Satellite Link (SATCOM) the drone could be controlled over vast distances beyond the direct radio line-of-sight of the mother ship. This mission demonstrated that the TCG Anadolu can monitor a massive maritime area without having to move the ship itself.
After visiting Rotterdam, the TCG Anadolu and its Task Group exercised a few days in the North Sea and the Channel before arriving in the harbour of Southampton, Great Britain next. After that NATO deployed the ship to the coast of Latvia as part of ongoing operation Eastern Sentry. This operation was started in 2025 under NATO AIRCOM, strengthening air surveillance and defence along the alliance’s eastern frontier to counter military threats posed by Russia. How long the TCG Anadolu and its helicopters and drones will stay in the Baltic Sea is currently unknown.
