DENİZKURDU-II/2024 naval exercise, which will be conducted in the Black Sea, Marmara, Aegean, and Eastern Mediterranean seas, begins today. DENİZKURDU-II/2024 Naval Exercise, carried out by the Naval Forces Command in the Black Sea, Marmara, Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, begins today. The exercise can be considered one of the most comprehensive activities of the Naval Forces, considering how many naval platforms are participating. The force provided similar participation in the İstanbul Strait with 100 ships and submarines during the naval parade due to the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic. The current TCG Istanbul F 515 frigate and the TCG Derya A 1590 Replenishment at Sea and Combat Support Ship, which were not yet in the inventory, also participated in the parade. Now, both of these ships are in the inventory. USVs will also participate in this exercise for the first time, and it will include an important innovation in man-unmanned teaming. Naval Commander Vice Admiral Kadir Yıldız, Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral Nihat Baran, Northern Task Group Commander Rear Admiral Erdinç Altıner, Naval Air Commander Rear Admiral Mehmet Savaş Eser, Submarine Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Timur Yılmaz, Gölcük Naval Commander attended the press briefing held at the Naval Warfare Centre Command in Gölcük. The Chief of Naval Operations, Rear Admiral Kaan Türkkan, announced that 100 surface ships, eight submarines, 39 aircraft, 16 helicopters, 28 unmanned aerial vehicles, seven unmanned surface vehicles, 2 SAT teams, and 3 SAS teams will attend the DENİZKURDU-II/2024 Naval Exercise. He announced that a total of 15,000 personnel would take part in the exercise.
Türkkan stated that the Marlin USV, which has just entered the Naval Forces Command's inventory, and six kamikaze Albatros USV will participate in the exercise activities for the first time. TCG Derya, among other missions at the exercise, will most probably also operate USVs to protect the mothership or extend the reach of logistic support by carrying supplies to remote distances.
Ensuring the smooth operation of the exercise, the Exercise Control Centre, consisting of 104 personnel, has been established at the Naval Warfare Centre Command. This centre is crucial in directing, controlling, and evaluating the exercise. Its main objective is to ensure that the exercise operation plan is executed according to the scenario and intermediate situations, thereby achieving the training objectives. This emphasis on control and evaluation should reassure our audience about the meticulous planning and execution of the exercise.
