Türkiye is hosting the Mavi Balina-2026 (Blue Whale-2026) international anti-submarine warfare exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean from 9 to 20 November, with more than 4,500 personnel from 12 countries taking part, Anadolu Agency (AA) and the local daily Muğla Haber reported on Thursday after a press briefing at Aksaz Naval Base in Marmaris, Muğla.
The exercise is held every two years and this is its 10th edition, according to AA and the İHA news agency. It was planned by the Naval Forces Command, is controlled by the Fleet Command and is being carried out by the Submarine Fleet Command, AA and Muğla Haber reported.
Ships, aircraft and participating navies
Turkish units in the exercise include eight submarines and one unmanned underwater vehicle, along with surface ships and aircraft, according to AA and Muğla Haber.
NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2) is taking part with ships from Türkiye, Spain and Greece, AA and Muğla Haber reported. A US Navy warship under national command and a Pakistan Navy maritime patrol aircraft are also participating, according to both outlets.
Indonesia, Morocco, Iraq, Mozambique, Mauritania, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Oman have sent observers, Muğla Haber and İHA reported.
Briefing and Turkish-made underwater drones
Submarine Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Ahmet İşçi, who gave the briefing, said the Turkish Navy has 13 active submarines, AA and İHA reported. The exercise aims to improve the navy’s operational capabilities and its ability to work with allied navies, according to Muğla Haber and İHA.
After the briefing, defence company ASELSAN presented its DerinGöz and Kılıç autonomous underwater vehicles, AA, Muğla Haber and İHA reported.
The navy also held its TURNAS-2026 unmanned systems exercise off Antalya. The Defence Ministry held its weekly press briefing on Thursday. For more on the Muğla coast, see our guide to living in Fethiye. See also our report on the rival navigational warnings over the Greece–Cyprus cable survey.
Sources
- Mavi Balina-2026 Davet Tatbikatı devam ediyor (Anadolu Ajansı)
- Mavi Balina-2026 tatbikatı Doğu Akdeniz’de başladı (Muğla Haber)
- Mavi Balina-2026 tatbikatında yerli su altı araçları tanıtıldı (Hamle Gazetesi / İHA)
Photo: Mstyslav Chernov / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
