Italy edges toward a carrier drone deal with Turkey
Italy is expected to move toward a formal acquisition of Turkish Bayraktar TB3 combat drones in the third quarter of 2026, according to Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar in remarks cited by Breaking Defense. If completed, the purchase would make Italy the first European operator of the TB3 outside Turkey and mark a meaningful shift in how a European navy could use fixed-wing uncrewed systems at sea.
The reported interest centers on integrating the TB3 aboard the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour. That would give Rome a carrier-capable unmanned aircraft designed for short takeoff and landing, adding a new layer to the navy’s mix of crewed aviation and helicopters.
A naval drone, not just another TB2
The TB3 is described in the source material as a more advanced, naval variant of the Bayraktar TB2. That distinction matters. The TB2 is already widely known as a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aircraft, but the TB3 is being positioned for carrier-style operations, including use from short runways.
That makes the aircraft especially relevant for navies operating carriers that were not designed around large catapult-launched drones. Vice Adm. Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, Italy’s navy chief, told a parliamentary committee on March 25 that the TB3 can be integrated onboard Cavour for surveillance and the possibility of carrying armament. He did not disclose the number of aircraft under discussion.
Even without quantity details, the concept is strategically clear. Italy appears to be exploring a way to expand the reach of its carrier air wing without relying solely on helicopters or crewed fighters.
How the TB3 could fit on Cavour
The supplied reporting notes that Cavour can carry a mixed air group of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters totaling about 20 to 24 units, with the F-35B serving as the primary aircraft. In that context, the TB3 is not being presented as a replacement for the fighter component. Instead, Francesco Schiavi, a non-resident fellow at the Middle East Institute Switzerland based in Italy, said the drone would partly replace helicopter capacity rather than fighter jets.
That points to a practical naval role. A carrier drone optimized for surveillance and armed missions can take on persistent tasks that would otherwise consume rotary-wing flight hours or require crewed platforms to stay aloft longer. For a navy, that can translate into more flexible deck management and more options for maritime awareness.
The shift is also doctrinal. Putting a combat-capable drone aboard a carrier is not just about adding an airframe. It forces decisions about command-and-control, launch and recovery procedures, maintenance cycles, mission planning, and how uncrewed sorties fit alongside crewed aviation in a limited deck footprint.
Industrial politics are part of the story
The reported procurement is tied closely to a broader industrial partnership. Baykar and Leonardo established a 50-50 joint venture in June called LBA Systems. According to the source, the venture will combine Baykar’s drone platforms with Leonardo’s expertise in electronics and sensors.
Bayraktar said the platforms are to be built at Leonardo’s Ronchi dei Legionari facility in northern Italy, which Leonardo has described as a center of excellence for unmanned systems. That local manufacturing angle is important. Defense purchases in Europe are rarely just about buying hardware. They also concern domestic industrial participation, technology integration, political buy-in, and long-term sustainment.
For Italy, local assembly or production can make a foreign-origin platform easier to justify. For Baykar, a foothold in Italy creates a stronger path into the European market, particularly if the TB3 becomes a visible operating system on a NATO navy’s flagship carrier.
What the deal would signal
If the acquisition is finalized on the timeline described, the decision would signal at least three things. First, it would confirm that carrier-capable uncrewed aviation is moving from experimental promise to operational procurement in Europe. Second, it would underscore Turkey’s growing importance as a defense supplier, not just a domestic drone power. Third, it would show that Italy is willing to use partnership structures to accelerate capability rather than waiting for a fully indigenous system.
There are still major unknowns. The source material does not provide aircraft numbers, contract value, delivery dates, or integration milestones. It also does not say how quickly the Italian Navy could field TB3 operations from Cavour after a deal is signed.
But the direction of travel is clear enough. Rome’s interest has intensified, senior naval leadership has publicly referenced carrier integration, and Baykar now sees a formal order as a near-term prospect.
A notable test for European naval aviation
For Europe, the significance of the potential purchase extends beyond one fleet. Carrier operations are expensive, space-constrained, and increasingly dependent on sensors and persistence. A short-runway naval drone fits those pressures well if it proves reliable in sustained service.
That is why the Italian case matters. It could become an early demonstration of how medium-altitude long-endurance uncrewed aircraft are adapted to sea-based aviation in a Western military setting. If it works, others will study the model closely. If it proves difficult, the obstacles will be just as instructive.
For now, the reported plan is not yet a signed contract. But it is more than a rumor. Based on the supplied reporting, Italy is preparing for a serious capability decision, one that could make the TB3 a landmark platform in Europe’s next phase of naval air power.
This article is based on reporting by Breaking Defense. Read the original article.
