The aircraft carrier Cavour of the Italian Navy (Marina Militare) and Turkey’s Bayraktar TB3 drones are converging in a significant step for European naval aviation, as Italy confirmed the future integration of the TB3 system aboard its main power-projection vessel. The decision was announced by Vice Admiral Berutti Bergotto during his appearance on March 25 before the Italian Senate’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, where he stated that the acquisition will be carried out through Leonardo thanks to a cooperation agreement signed with the Turkish manufacturer Baykar. The officer added that the platform will be able to operate from the Cavour and perform surveillance and weapons-carrying missions.
In his parliamentary remarks, Vice Admiral Bergotto specified that the Italian Navy is moving forward with the incorporation of the TB3, an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by Baykar and designed to operate from short-deck aircraft carriers. He explained that the integration will be carried out through Leonardo, although the platform can also be obtained through LBA Systems, a joint venture between Leonardo and Baykar. This confirmation constitutes the clearest sign yet that Italy aims to incorporate a fixed-wing UCAV into its embarked air component and thus complement its manned aircraft and helicopters.
With this acquisition, Italy will become the first European customer of the Bayraktar TB3, a navalized version of the Bayraktar TB2 that has been exported to more than 30 countries. The TB3 was designed for operations from light aircraft carriers and ships with reduced flight decks, which positions it as a viable option for expeditionary missions. Indonesia had previously been announced as the first international user of the model, after acquiring both land-based and shipborne variants, highlighting the growing global interest in UCAVs suitable for carrier operations.
The development of the TB3 incorporates folding wings, reinforced landing gear, and systems adapted for maritime environments, which optimizes its use on aircraft carriers such as Turkey’s TCG Anadolu. During NATO’s Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise, TB3s operated from that ship and demonstrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, in addition to strike functions. The integration of a similar system aboard the Cavour would represent a step forward for the Italian Navy, which already operates F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft.
The presentation delivered by Vice Admiral Bergotto took place within the broader framework of strengthening the Italian Navy’s portfolio of unmanned systems. The service already operates ScanEagle UAVs aboard FREMM-class frigates, and recently incorporated a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone identified as “Revolution,” developed by General Defence. According to the naval chief, this system can carry a secondary drone acting as a loitering munition, which expands the surveillance and strike capacity of surface units.
Industrial cooperation between Italy and Turkey is another central aspect of the future incorporation of the TB3 aboard the Cavour. Baykar and Leonardo maintain an agreement to facilitate joint technological development and the marketing of the system in Europe. This link allows Italy to access a platform capable of combining autonomy, carrier-based operation, and the use of guided munitions, thereby increasing the flexibility of the embarked air group.
As a relevant precedent, during the Seawolf-II/2025 (DENİZKURDU-II 2025) exercise of the Turkish Naval Forces, two Bayraktar TB3s carried out strike tests from the aircraft carrier TCG Anadolu using MAM-L munitions. That demonstration consolidated the drone’s potential for maritime missions and confirmed its operational maturity. The future incorporation of this capability aboard the aircraft carrier Cavour will reinforce Italy’s transition toward a combined naval aviation model, with manned and unmanned assets capable of expanding ISR reach and improving strike capabilities.
Images for illustrative purposes.
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