ASELSAN, a Turkish defense company, unveiled two new autonomous naval strike platforms at the SAHA 2026 defense exhibition in Istanbul. The launch took place this week, drawing senior military officials and industry leaders to the event.
The new platforms, KILIÇ 200 and TUFAN, are designed for asymmetric naval operations and offer a cost-effective way to address current maritime threats. ASELSAN calls them part of its “New Strike Forces of the Blue Homeland,” highlighting a focus on expanding naval capabilities with autonomous technology.
The TUFAN unmanned surface vessel is built for high-speed strike missions. The craft measures about 26.2 feet long and 5.9 feet wide, making it compact enough for flexible deployment. It can reach speeds of up to 57.5 miles per hour and operate across a range of about 230 miles.
TUFAN has several communication systems, such as radio links, satellite connections, and 4G LTE. These features help it stay connected even in challenging conditions. It can operate day or night and keep working if satellite navigation is lost.
The system can handle solo missions or work as part of a coordinated swarm. It can also operate with crewed ships or other unmanned platforms. Connecting to command-and-control networks allows for remote coordination during complex missions.
ASELSAN also introduced the KILIÇ 200 autonomous underwater vehicle alongside TUFAN. This system is made for covert underwater missions, with a focus on finding and engaging maritime threats.
The vehicle is about 137.8 inches long and 12.8 inches in diameter. It has a base operational range of roughly 115 miles, which can be extended to about 230 miles using an additional battery module.
KILIÇ 200 includes artificial intelligence-based visual localization and target detection systems. It also supports satellite communication and carries an onboard warhead. The platform is designed to operate with low visibility, making it suitable for stealth missions and surprise attacks.
Revealing both systems shows ASELSAN’s goal to expand into different operational areas. By developing surface and underwater autonomous vehicles, the company wants to build a more connected maritime warfare system.
These platforms are meant to work together with other assets, like drones and naval ships. This approach is part of a wider move in naval strategy toward more distributed and autonomous operations.
Senior defense officials attended the launch, showing how important these systems are for future military plans. The main goal is to boost flexibility while lowering costs and risks for personnel.
Speaking at the event, ASELSAN President and CEO Ahmet Akyol emphasized the growing importance of autonomy in maritime defense. “Securing beyond the boundaries of the naval domain requires a new level of autonomy, integration, and operational flexibility. As maritime security gains increasing importance in today’s operational environment, we are leveraging our geographical advantages to enhance our capabilities at sea and introducing our new generation unmanned naval systems, designed to address the evolving requirements of modern maritime operations.”
“These new solutions reflect ASELSAN’s commitment to delivering integrated and future-ready technologies that enhance the effectiveness of naval forces across multiple domains. Building on our experience in UAV technologies, we aim to strengthen Türkiye’s position in unmanned naval systems, as well, with our new products,” he added.
By launching TUFAN and KILIÇ 200, ASELSAN is building its presence in the growing field of unmanned naval warfare. These systems suggest that autonomous platforms will become key to future maritime security operations.
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A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.
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