Turkey's unmanned defence technology expansion

In late July 2026 Turkey’s Defence Industry Agency (SSB) issued a procurement call for counter‑UAV systems and unveiled a wide‑ranging technology roadmap that emphasizes AI, swarm drones, quantum, directed‑energy and space‑based defence. The plan calls for a national supply chain involving more than 1 100 projects across 81 cities.

A week later the industry showcased operational progress. The domestically built combat drone KIZILELMA performed an autonomous, coordinated flight with an Italian M‑346 fighter, demonstrating seamless integration with manned aircraft. TUSAŞ prepared the next‑generation ANKA‑3 UAV for service, while ASELSAN introduced autonomous underwater systems KILIÇ (including kamikaze variants) and DERİNGÖZ, capable of swarm‑based target engagement and deep‑water reconnaissance in GPS‑denied environments. These developments illustrate Turkey’s move from procurement and strategic planning to fielding interoperable unmanned platforms across air and maritime domains.