Turkey Launches Denizkurdu-I/2026 Military Exercise with 100 Ships and Aircraft

Large-scale Turkish Navy Denizkurdu-I/2026 military exercises have begun in the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean seas.

The exercise will run from September 20 to 25 under the direction of the Ministry of National Defense, according to the Turkish maritime portal Denizde.

The training involves 100 vessels, including frigates, corvettes, and missile ships, as well as 50 aircraft and 14,000 military personnel.

The exercise aims to assess the Turkish Navy’s combat readiness under challenging conditions and practice joint operations.

As part of the training, Turkish forces will conduct operational training and live-fire exercises.

The current exercise is the next stage in the series following Denizkurdu-II/2026, which was held in June with the participation of 125 vessels and 18,000 personnel.

Turkey considers the militarization of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea a threat to its security.