“Bayraktar TB3” drones will soon fly in the skies of Italy policy

The Turkish Bayraktar TB3 marches pave the way for a new phase in European defense cooperation, with Italy preparing to be the first European country to acquire this advanced model, in a move described as reshaping the balance of defense power on the continent.

Italy intends to buy Bayraktar TB3 drones produced by the Turkish company Baykar, and if the deal is completed, it will be the first of its kind in Europe, according to the Turkish Hava Habr platform specializing in aviation news.

Experts describe the agreement as a silent restructuring to strengthen Ankara’s position within the evolving European security architecture, according to the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet.

Italy is the first country in Europe to use the advanced TP3 model, as Croatia, Poland and Romania had previously adopted the TP2 system.

Hurriyet quotes Baykar General Manager Khaluk Bayraktar as saying – in an interview with the Breaking Defense website – that Italy is expected to officially approve the supply of Bayraktar TB3 drones within a few months.

Thus, Italy will be the first country in Europe to use the advanced TB3 model, as Croatia, Poland, and Romania had previously adopted the TB2 system, in a move that Hava Haber described as an important development in the European defense market.

Advanced capabilities

Hava Habr explains the capabilities of Bayraktar TB3 and the advantages of employing it as follows:

• The drone has the ability to take off and land from short-deck aircraft carriers, thanks to its foldable wing structure and fuselage with a boost landing system.
• It is planned to be deployed on board the Italian aircraft carrier “Cavour”.
• It was developed by Baykar specifically to carry out intelligence, surveillance and attack missions, with the aim of expanding the capabilities of naval forces by reducing dependence on manned systems.

Excellence in NATO maneuvers

The Savunma Sunayi ST platform, which specializes in the Turkish defense industries, indicates that the “Bayraktar TB3” drone carried out a successful air show within the “Steadfast Dart 2026” maneuvers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The drone succeeded in taking off and landing autonomously on board the Turkish aircraft carrier TCG Anatolia in the Baltic Sea, despite the snow and strong winds.

It also received praise from representatives of allied countries who followed the display, as it was considered the only system among the participating combat aircraft and helicopters capable of carrying out flying missions in those conditions.

Italian-Turkish cooperation

This upcoming defense agreement is seen as part of the cooperation that has accelerated between Ankara and Rome in recent years, according to the Hava Habr platform.

The Italian company Leonardo and the Turkish company Baykar concluded a cooperation agreement to provide the “Bayraktar TB3” system.

The two companies also signed a joint venture agreement, LBA Systems, based in Italy, to design, develop and produce drone systems, which is considered one of the important steps in support of the path of cooperation between the two countries.

In evaluating this cooperation, Hurriyet quoted the foreign policy coordinator at the IstanPol Institute, Ricardo Gasco, as saying – to Al-Monitor – that Turkey is strengthening its position as an indispensable defense partner for European countries, at a time when Italy is emerging as a major European party in this relationship.

Analysts believe that this partnership took shape in light of the growing uncertainty about America’s long-term security commitments, and the efforts of European countries to diversify their defense ties within the continent, as well as with partners outside the European Union such as Turkey.