Turkish defense giant Aselsan showcased its recently unveiled ship-killing Kiliç Kamikaze Underwater Drones to an international audience at Efes 2026.
Aselsan’s Kiliç series of Kamikaze Autonomous Underwater Vehicles were among the products showcased by the Turkish defense firm on the sidelines of Ankara’s premier defense drills last month.
Initially debuted at Saha 2026, a company official explained that there was potential to further develop and expand Kiliç’s capabilities. Naval News understands that recent developments in global maritime trends towards unmanned surface and underwater vehicles heavily influenced Aselsan’s decision to proceed with the creation of the underwater kamikaze drones.
“As maritime operations shift toward distributed, network-centric and increasingly asymmetric engagements, unmanned systems are emerging as a defining element of naval power,” stated an Aselsan advertorial on the drone’s debut at SAHA 2026.
Kiliç drones are designed to sense and strike maritime targets at a variety of ranges, extending from 10 to 100 or 200 nautical miles. Depending on the variant, Kiliç can be controlled through either wire, RF and satellite communications. While mostly submerged, some elements of the kamikaze autonomous underwater vehicle design protrude above the water to enable communications and tracking of surface vessels with mounted sensors. The firm envisions swarms of these drones to work together to sink vessels and deny vast distances of water to enemy operations.
Aselsan can rely on its in-house manufacturing capabilities to deliver the sensors and command and control capabilities required for a drone of this capability. The firm is the primary Turkish defense firm responsible for the development and production of military-grade electronics and communication systems.
Aselsan concept graphics depict the Kiliç being launched from the coast and striking enemy warships in port. The company also highlights that the drones can be mounted on unmanned surface vessels.
At Efes 2026, Aselsan showcased the drones at an exhibition attended by various nations and delegations interested in procuring Turkish defense equipment. Kiliç is one of the latest unmanned systems to join the firm’s maritime drone portfolio in recent years.
It is also the second kamikaze system to be developed by Aselsan designed to sink ships after the Albatros Kamikaze unmanned surface vessel (USV). In 2023, a ship was sent to the bottom of the Eastern Mediterranean during a complex maritime strike drill held by the Turkish military involving eight Albatros USVs and other unmanned systems.
For the requirements of the Turkish Naval Forces – and other navies operating in constrained littoral environments – the Kiliç drone can provide an asymmetrical solution to area denial and maritime strike at an affordable cost compared to traditional coastal defense cruise missiles.
