Turkey’s Aselsan eyes growth in networked, mass-producible weapons, CEO says
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ISTANBUL — Aselsan used the Saha Expo 2026 defense exhibition here to present a vision of future warfare built around autonomous systems, layered air defense and integrated strike networks, as the Turkish defense-electronics giant seeks to expand its role as a domestic systems integrator and growing global exporter.In an interview with Defence News during the show, Aselsan CEO Ahmet Akyol described the company’s latest launches as part of a broader shift toward networked, high-volume and cost-effective systems designed for modern attritional warfare.In the maritime domain, this strategy manifested itself in the form of two autonomous naval strike systems designed around swarming operations, low observability and high-volume production.One of them was the Tufan Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), a fast-moving, autonomous platform for both offensive operations and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) tasks. 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.The second systems was the Kılıç family of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). Akyol described them as “kamikaze UUVs,” stating that when creating an entirely new operational concept, the terminology also evolves with it.Akyol said the Kılıç UUVs currently come in two variants, Kılıç 10 and Kılıç 200, designed for long-range and low-signature operations. The swarm-capable systems carry warheads with lightweight torpedo-class punch, and they can operate autonomously or via satellite link. “Kılıç is quite difficult to defend against,” Akyol said.The company also used Saha Expo to highlight the defensive side of modern networked warfare through a layered mix of air defense, electronic warfare and counter-drone systems. The company presented the systems as part of Turkey’s evolving “Steel Dome” air defense architecture.“For the electronic warfare layer of Steel Dome, we are launching Koral AD — a