Power of Unity 2026 exercise showcases combined drone and cyber warfare preparedness

More than 3,500 troops from Azerbaijan, Turkey and Uzbekistan conducted the “Power of Unity-2026” exercise in the Hojavend district of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region, rehearsing responses to mass drone attacks, cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and maritime seizure scenarios to enhance trilateral combat readiness.

The drills at the Qızılqaya military training area integrated over 130 unmanned vehicles with more than 70 armoured vehicles, over 90 artillery systems and more than 20 aviation assets, reflecting combined-arms employment of unmanned systems, artillery, armoured manoeuvre, aviation and electronic warfare.

Training scenarios included repelling drone swarm attacks, strikes against advancing columns, surveillance and logistics deliveries by drones, breaching defensive positions, clearing minefields, advancing with armoured vehicles, anti-tank operations and setting up checkpoints during settlement clearing operations.

The exercise also simulated cyberattacks and online disinformation responses, operations against “terrorist” positions in mountainous terrain, detection and interdiction of attempted border crossings by drones, and maritime operations in the Caspian Sea to free a vessel and an offshore facility, rescue hostages and neutralise a simulated terrorist base.

Azerbaijan’s Defence Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov stated the exercise included land, naval and air operations aimed at raising combat readiness. Türkiye’s Defence Minister Yaşar Güler highlighted the need for military preparedness and hailed the exercise’s success in planning and execution. Uzbekistan’s Defence Minister Lieutenant General Shukhrat Kholmukhamedov said participating personnel demonstrated high combat readiness and the ability to carry out missions together.

The drills took place across training areas in Baku, the Karabakh region, Nakhchivan and Azerbaijan’s part of the Caspian Sea. Observers at the exercise included Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Georgia, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

The exercise was followed by a trilateral defence meeting in Shusha attended by Azerbaijan’s Defence Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, Türkiye’s National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister and Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani, focusing on military cooperation, regional security and trilateral ties.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The combined focus on unmanned systems, electronic warfare and cyber and information operations signals a shift in training priorities toward multi-domain integration, preparing participating forces to synchronise drone employment with traditional asset sets. The inclusion of maritime hostage rescue and platform seizure drills extends the exercise scope beyond land operations, underlining an intention to practice joint responses across land, air and sea.

The presence of multiple observers and the subsequent trilateral defence meeting indicate the exercise served both as an operational rehearsal and a diplomatic demonstration of interoperability among the participating and observing states.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• The “Power of Unity-2026” exercise involved more than 3,500 troops from Azerbaijan, Turkey and Uzbekistan in Karabakh and other Azerbaijani training areas.
• Training integrated over 130 unmanned vehicles with armoured vehicles, artillery systems and aviation assets.
• Scenarios covered drone swarm defence, cyberattacks, disinformation, border interdiction and maritime hostage rescue.
• Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan senior defence officials underlined improved combat readiness and interoperability.
• Observers from multiple regional states attended and a trilateral defence meeting was held in Shusha focusing on cooperation and regional security.