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NATO Flexes Against Russia as Türkiye Deploys Drone Carrier Task Group
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A Turkish naval task group centered on the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu has deployed under NATO’s new Allied Reaction Force, marking Ankara’s contribution to the alliance’s largest exercise of the year, STEADFAST DART 2026, according to UK Defence Journal on January 28.
According to NATO Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, the Turkish Maritime Task Group sailed earlier this month and is scheduled to arrive in Rota, Spain, on January 29.
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The deployment represents the first large-scale peacetime use of NATO’s newly established Allied Reaction Force and is intended to demonstrate the alliance’s ability to rapidly assemble and project combat-ready forces.
The task group includes the landing helicopter dock TCG Anadolu, the logistics support ship TCG Derya, the I-class frigate TCG İstanbul, and the Barbaros-class frigate TCG Oruçreis. Together, the formation constitutes a self-sustaining national maritime force capable of extended operations at sea.
NATO Müttefik Reaksiyon Kuvveti kapsamında, NATO Amfibi Görev Kuvveti Komutanlığı ve Çıkarma Kuvveti Komutanlığı görevleri 2025–2026 döneminde 🇹🇷 Türk Deniz Kuvvetleri tarafından icra ediliyor.
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) January 21, 2026
Anadolu Türk Deniz Görev Kuvveti; TCG Anadolu, TCG Derya, TCG İstanbul ve TCG… pic.twitter.com/MEL9Yryhl7
TCG Anadolu, often described as a drone-capable carrier following Türkiye’s integration of unmanned aerial systems, serves as the centerpiece of the deployment.
The ship is designed to support amphibious assaults, rotary-wing aviation, and unmanned platforms, while also functioning as a command-and-control hub for joint operations.
Kara Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı unsurları, STEADFAST DART 2026 Tatbikatı'na katılıyor. Bu kapsamda 🇹🇷 66’ncı Mekanize Piyade Tugay Komutanlığına ait;
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) January 22, 2026
▪️ 22 adet VURAN TTZA ve 50 personel TCG Anadolu ile Foça’dan,
▪️ 123 araç, 31 konteyner ve 11 römork ise sivil Ro-Ro gemisiyle… pic.twitter.com/aeoCLvohyD
NATO said STEADFAST DART 2026 is intended to test the deployability, readiness, and interoperability of the Allied Reaction Force across multiple domains, reinforcing the alliance’s deterrence posture amid a more contested security environment.
Beyond surface combatants, the Turkish task group is deploying amphibious assault vehicles, embarked aviation assets, and unmanned systems, enabling joint maritime and littoral operations alongside allied forces. The mission also coincides with Türkiye holding key NATO command responsibilities.
Turkish Naval Forces assumed the roles of Commander Amphibious Task Force and Commander Landing Force from July 2025 through June 2026—the first time Türkiye has held both positions simultaneously within the alliance.
From January through April 2026, the task group is expected to operate across a broad maritime area, including the Mediterranean, Bay of Biscay, English Channel, North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Adriatic Sea, while participating in multiple NATO activities linked to STEADFAST DART.
NATO described the deployment as a visible demonstration of allied cohesion and the ability to rapidly project credible maritime power under the new Allied Reaction Force framework, at a time of heightened tensions along the alliance’s eastern and northern flanks.
Earlier, US Army soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, carried out Bradley Fighting Vehicle live-fire gunnery drills on January 11–12 at the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area near Pabradė, Lithuania, as part of ongoing efforts to maintain combat readiness along NATO’s eastern flank.
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