Overview
- ASELSAN, which unveiled the KILIÇ underwater strike family and the TUFAN surface drone Tuesday at SAHA 2026 in Istanbul, presented both as swarm‑capable and largely autonomous.
- KILIÇ are expendable underwater vehicles with integrated warheads that use acoustic and optical sensors and RF or optional wire guidance to execute solo or swarm attacks.
- TUFAN is an 8.1‑meter unmanned surface vessel with a gasoline engine and waterjet that can scout or strike, carrying an insensitive high‑explosive warhead for attacks on ships or coastal targets.
- ASELSAN’s CEO tied the move to Turkey’s maritime geography and the firm’s UAV experience, and the company has a teaming agreement with Malaysia’s NAVAMAS to develop unmanned surface vessels.
- The show also featured new one‑way attack aircraft from Baykar, a push that analysts say reflects demand for cheaper drones that can saturate and wear down defenses.