Italy Set To Unveil Powerful Turkish Drones By Summer

Italy’s Navy on Track to Welcome Turkish TB3 Drones by Summer, Baykar CEO Confirms

A formal agreement for the purchase of Turkish-made TB3 combat drones is expected to be completed by the third quarter of this year. According to Haluk Bayraktar, CEO of Baykar, the manufacturer behind the platforms, this marks a significant milestone in the growing partnership between Turkey and Italy in the defense sector.

The Italian Navy’s interest in the medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) platform has intensified in recent months. Key officials from Rome have emphasized its potential for enhancing surveillance and armament capabilities onboard naval vessels. The Italian Navy’s Chief Vice Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto recently solidified rollout plans for the TB3 during a parliamentary hearing.

Speaking before the Italian Senate’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on March 25, Bergotto stated that the TB3 “can be integrated onboard the Cavour aircraft carrier to allow both surveillance and the possibility of carrying armament.” He did not reveal an exact quantity of drones at the time, but his remarks underscored the significant potential of this partnership for enhancing Italy’s naval capabilities.

The engagement between Baykar and the Italian defense giant Leonardo is driving this collaboration. In June, the two companies established a 50-50 joint venture in Italy, dubbed LBA Systems, which will develop and produce drones by combining Baykar’s platforms with Leonardo’s expertise in electronics and sensors. The partnership is set to create a robust and innovative unmanned systems division at the Italian facility in Ronchi dei Legionari.

At the heart of this collaboration is the TB3 platform itself, a more advanced naval variant of the TB2 that boasts capabilities for short-range take-off and landing. This makes it an attractive solution for naval operators seeking to enhance their surveillance and strike capacities without sacrificing aircraft availability. The TB3’s compact design and foldable wings also make onboard storage easier.

According to available information from the Italian Navy, the Cavour aircraft carrier is set to be equipped with a mixed fleet of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, totaling 20-24 units, with the F-35B as the primary aircraft. Francesco Schiavi, a non-resident fellow at the Middle East Institute Switzerland based in Italy, believes that the TB3 will “partly replace the helicopter component rather than the fighter jets” on Italian carriers.

Federico Borsari, an Italian fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, expects that the Cavour can carry a minimum of 20 TB3s, citing the drone’s foldable wings as an advantage that makes onboard storage easier. This estimate is significant, given the potential for this partnership to transform Italy’s naval capabilities.

Rome’s decision to prioritize locally-manufactured unmanned systems is also a key aspect of this strategy. In his speech to parliament, Berutti Bergotto revealed plans to acquire an Italian-made 12-meter-long unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) for undersea surveillance missions by June. The country will also purchase an 8.5-meter-long unmanned surface vessel, the Sea Raptor, produced by the Italian manufacturer Defcomm, which can equip all Navy ships.

This move underscores Italy’s commitment to developing its naval capabilities through indigenous production and integration of cutting-edge technologies like UUVs and drones. As the Mediterranean region continues to evolve in terms of security challenges and maritime interests, partnerships like this one are likely to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of carrier air power in Europe.

The acquisition of TB3 drones by Italy is expected to not only enhance its naval capabilities but also serve as a significant step forward for Baykar’s global expansion plans. With its established partnership with Leonardo and now its entry into the Italian market, Baykar is poised to capitalize on growing demand for advanced unmanned systems from navies worldwide.

The integration of TB3 drones onto Italian carriers will be essential to monitor their performance in real-world operations and assess the long-term implications for naval capabilities. The partnership between Italy and Turkey in this area represents a significant step forward for regional cooperation and innovation in defense technology.

Original Source

• Read the full article here