Aselsan unveils next-gen unmanned naval systems

May 6, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Turkish defense company Aselsan has unveiled a new generation of unmanned naval systems, including KILIÇ autonomous underwater strike systems family and TUFAN unmanned surface vehicle.

The company, which presented the solutions at the SAHA 2026 Exhibition in Istanbul, Turkiye, said that the solutions are developed to support autonomous, distributed and asymmetric operations across surface and subsurface maritime domains.

In the subsurface domain, the KILIÇ family presents autonomous underwater strike systems with different variants, developed for asymmetric warfare and covert operations. The systems combine portability, low detectability and high-precision engagement capabilities, offering flexible deployment options across a wide range of mission scenarios, Aselsan noted.

With advanced sensing, communication and navigation capabilities, the KILIÇ family can operate independently or as part of coordinated swarm structures, supporting multi-domain maritime operations.

Meanwhile, in the surface domain,the TUFAN unmanned surface vehicle is designed to perform both offensive and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

The platform combines high speed and maneuverability with advanced autonomy, enabling deployment in both littoral and open-sea conditions. Its swarm-enabled architecture allows coordinated operations, supporting simultaneous missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance and precision engagement.

Commenting on the launch of new naval systems, Ahmet Akyol, ASELSAN President & CEO, stated: “Securing beyond the boundaries of 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.”

To remind, last December, Aselsan signed a teaming agreement with Malaysian shipyard NAVAMAS to develop a mission-ready unmanned surface vessel.