Türkiye launches largest naval drills in its history, covering four seas

Türkiye has kicked off the largest naval exercise in its history, Denizkurdu-II/2025, a wide-scale operation running through May 17 and spanning the Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Sea of Marmara, and the Mediterranean.

The launch of the drills was announced by Zeki Aktürk, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, Caliber.Az reports.

More than 120 naval vessels are taking part in the exercise, including six submarines, along with 85 manned and unmanned aircraft and seven unmanned surface vehicles. The drills also involve nearly the entire amphibious and auxiliary fleet of the Turkish Navy—over 90% of its combat-ready surface force.

In a first for naval exercises of this magnitude in Türkiye, units from the Land Forces, Air Force, Gendarmerie, and Coast Guard are also participating, signalling a broader inter-service coordination effort.

The scale of the exercise extends beyond the armed forces. Several civilian ministries and organisations are involved, including the Ministries of Interior, Health, Agriculture and Forestry, Transport and Infrastructure, as well as the Turkish Red Crescent. Their inclusion reflects a move toward complex, integrated operations modelled on NATO standards.

A key moment in the exercise will be the live firing of Türkiye’s domestically developed ATMACA anti-ship missile from a submarine. The missile, considered a national counterpart to the American Sub-Harpoon, has a range exceeding 220 kilometres and is powered by a Turkish-made Kale turbojet engine.

By Tamilla Hasanova