Aselsan Displays New Unmanned Surface and Underwater Vehicles at Saha Expo 2026

Aselsan unveiled the Tufan Unmanned Surface Vehicle and the Kılıç family of unmanned underwater vehicles at the Saha Expo 2026 defense exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey. The company used the event to present a range of autonomous systems, layered air defense and integrated strike networks. Aselsan CEO Ahmet Akyol was interviewed by Defense News during the show at the Istanbul Expo Center.

Ahmet Akyol described Tufan as Aselsan’s new-generation surface kamikaze vehicle. “It builds on our experience with platforms like Marlin and Albatros USVs,” he said. Aselsan General Manager Ahmet Akyol delivered remarks at the SAHA 2026 International Defense, Aerospace and Space Industry Fair at Istanbul Expo Center on May 5, 2026.

The Kılıç UUVs currently come in two variants: Kılıç 10 and Kılıç 200. Kılıç 10 and Kılıç 200 are designed for long-range and low-signature operations.

The systems carry warheads with lightweight torpedo-class punch and can operate autonomously or via satellite link. “Kılıç is quite difficult to defend against,” Ahmet Akyol said. On the defensive side, Aselsan is launching Koral AD as the electronic warfare layer of Turkey’s Steel Dome air defense architecture.

Koral AD is a long-range radar electronic attack system intended to detect, deceive and jam enemy aircraft radars. Aselsan launched a new version of the Ilgar electronic warfare system. The new Ilgar system is designed to disrupt communications between combat aircraft and ground control stations.

Ahmet Akyol said the Ilgar system makes it very difficult for enemy aircraft to execute an attack by blinding enemy radars, saturating them with false targets, and jamming the guidance heads of incoming anti-radiation missiles. Defense News reported that Aselsan presented the systems as part of a broader shift toward networked, high-volume and cost-effective solutions designed for modern attritional warfare.

Ahmet Akyol said many of the systems were designed around a commercial-component philosophy rather than a traditional boutique defense industry approach.

“Everything we have talked about today could realistically be in inventory by 2027,” Ahmet Akyol said in an interview. The company has set a target of raising exports to 40% of total revenues by 2030, up from 25% today and 11% when the ASELSAN Next program launched in 2024.