Türkiye’s Blue Homeland drill to showcase military capabilities across 3 seas

Türkiye’s Armed Forces (TAF) are set to begin the Blue Homeland drill on Tuesday, involving the air force, navy and coast guard. The large-scale exercise will deploy up to 20,000 personnel across the Black Sea, Aegean Sea, and the Mediterranean, showcasing newly developed domestic weapon systems.

Why it matters

This multi-domain exercise highlights Türkiye’s capacity to operate simultaneously in three major maritime regions. Conducted with locally produced defense technology, the drill signals Ankara’s intent to strengthen its deterrent capabilities while drawing attention from neighboring countries—particularly Greece, which has expressed concern over the scope of the operation.

Details of Blue Homeland drill

• Dates and locations:
  • Begins Tuesday, lasting for 10 days.
  • Encompasses activities in the Black Sea, Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
• Scale:
  • About 20,000 personnel.
  • 87 surface vessels, seven submarines, seven unmanned surface vehicles, 31 aircraft, 17 helicopters, and various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)/SIHAs/IHAs.
• Objectives:
  • Test multi-threat operational readiness, strengthen decision-making processes, and evaluate capabilities in combined crisis and combat scenarios.

Zoom in

• Domestic defense tech:
  The drill will incorporate recently developed Turkish weapon systems, reflecting Türkiye’s growing emphasis on indigenous military research and production.
• Operational goals:
  The TAF aims to assess command-and-control efficiency, from headquarters operations to real-time field engagements, ensuring personnel readiness under complex and demanding mission conditions.

Zoom out

Blue Homeland 2025 underscores Türkiye’s broader defense strategy—establishing a strong presence in critical maritime zones while demonstrating comprehensive operational readiness. As tensions occasionally flare with regional neighbors regarding territorial and energy issues, these large-scale maneuvers highlight Türkiye’s determination to protect its interests on multiple fronts.