SAHA EXPO 2026: Top 10 Turkish Defence Products Revealing NATO’s Next War Technologies. 

Istanbul; May 2026: SAHA Expo 2026 in Istanbul is proving to be the platform for Türkiye, in unveiling a new generation of indigenous armoured vehicles, ballistic missiles, unmanned combat aircraft, naval drones, and autonomous warfare systems, underscoring Ankara’s accelerating drive for strategic military independence and greater influence in NATO-era defence markets.

There are several niche warfare products which have been under display, but the ten most strategically significant Turkish defence products showcased at the exhibition based on battlefield relevance, combat capability, technological innovation, and future operational impact. The selected systems reveal how Türkiye is rapidly expanding its ability to deliver long-range strike power, autonomous combat operations, advanced survivability, and multi-domain battlefield integration across land, air, and naval warfare. Beyond industrial growth, Turkish defence products highlight a broader shift toward combat-ready, export-focused Turkish defence technologies designed to compete in future high-intensity conflicts and evolving NATO operational environments.

Attila 155mm Truck-Mounted Self-Propelled Howitzer: developed by MKE, reflects Türkiye’s growing emphasis on highly mobile, long-range artillery capable of supporting rapid manoeuvre warfare. Mounted on a tactical military truck chassis, the self-propelled howitzer combines strategic mobility with heavy firepower while enabling rapid shoot-and-scoot operations to avoid enemy counter-battery fire. The artillery vehicle integrates digital fire-control technology and automated loading support to improve reaction speed and precision during indirect fire missions. The combat experience observed in Ukraine has reinforced the importance of mobile artillery capable of relocating immediately after firing, making systems such as the Attila increasingly relevant for modern high-intensity warfare. Read also our coverage of Turkish artillery modernisation.

Yildirimhan Intercontinental Ballistic Missile: the concept presented at SAHA Expo highlighted Türkiye’s long-term ambitions in strategic missile development and indigenous deterrence capabilities. Although technical details remain limited, the missile attracted significant attention due to its potential to extend Türkiye’s strategic strike reach far beyond regional operational areas. The development of an intercontinental ballistic missile would require advanced expertise in propulsion technology, guidance systems, thermal protection, and reentry vehicle engineering, placing Türkiye among a very limited group of nations possessing such capabilities. The presentation of the missile also illustrates Ankara’s determination to strengthen sovereign strategic defence technologies amid growing regional missile competition.

ASELSAN’s Tufan Naval Kamikaze Drone: demonstrated Türkiye’s growing investment in autonomous maritime warfare and asymmetric naval strike operations. Designed as a high-speed unmanned surface vessel carrying an explosive payload, the naval drone is optimised to conduct swarm attacks against warships, coastal infrastructure, and amphibious assault forces while minimising risks to naval personnel. The vessel integrates autonomous navigation technologies, electro-optical targeting systems, and secure communication links to support coordinated maritime attack missions. The increasing deployment of unmanned naval strike assets worldwide highlights the growing operational value of low-cost autonomous attack vessels capable of saturating traditional naval defences.

Anka-III Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle: developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries was among the most advanced combat aircraft displayed at the exhibition. Featuring a stealth-oriented flying-wing configuration, internal weapon carriage, and autonomous mission-management capabilities, the unmanned combat aerial vehicle is designed to conduct deep-strike missions, suppress enemy air defences, conduct reconnaissance, and conduct electronic warfare operations in heavily defended airspace. The aircraft marks a significant evolution in Türkiye’s combat aviation sector as the country transitions from conventional reconnaissance drones toward low-observable combat aircraft capable of operating against sophisticated integrated air-defence networks.

BMC’s Pamir 4×4 Light Tactical Armoured Vehicle: highlighted Türkiye’s modernisation efforts in protected mobility for reconnaissance, rapid-response, and special operations missions. The armoured vehicle combines lightweight ballistic protection, high tactical mobility, and modular mission adaptability, making it suitable for asymmetric warfare environments and difficult-terrain operations. Designed for troop transport, command-and-control missions, and internal security tasks, the Pamir also provides improved survivability against mines and improvised explosive devices. The vehicle addresses the growing operational demand for highly mobile armoured vehicles to support dispersed, fast-moving combat formations across modern battlefields.

IKA-Palem Unmanned Ground Vehicle: developed by Tekatron demonstrated Türkiye’s increasing focus on robotic land warfare and autonomous battlefield support capabilities. Designed for reconnaissance, logistics transport, perimeter security, and potentially armed combat missions, the robotic combat vehicle reduces soldiers’ direct exposure in dangerous operational zones. The unmanned ground vehicle integrates autonomous navigation technologies, advanced sensors, and remote-control systems to support operations in urban environments and contested terrain. The growing role of robotic combat vehicles in modern warfare reflects the broader military trend toward human-machine teaming and autonomous force multiplication during high-risk missions.

DELTAV’s HISTEPP Hypersonic Test Platform: has emerged as one of the most technologically ambitious aerospace projects presented during SAHA Expo 2026. Developed to support research into hypersonic propulsion and ultra-high-speed flight technologies, the test platform is intended to validate aerodynamic performance, propulsion systems, and guidance solutions operating at speeds exceeding Mach 5. Hypersonic weapons are increasingly considered critical strategic assets due to their ability to evade conventional missile-defence networks and drastically reduce enemy response times. Türkiye’s investment in hypersonic flight research demonstrates its determination to enter a strategic technological field currently dominated by only a few global military powers.

Bayraktar’s Kizilelma Unmanned Fighter Aircraft: remained one of the exhibition’s most strategically important combat aircraft due to its role in Türkiye’s future airpower doctrine. Unlike conventional unmanned aerial vehicles designed primarily for surveillance or limited strike operations, the Kizilelma is intended to perform air-to-air combat, deep-strike missions, and carrier-capable operations from vessels such as the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship. The unmanned fighter aircraft integrates advanced avionics, artificial intelligence-assisted combat management, and low-observable design characteristics to operate in highly contested operational environments. The aircraft reflects Türkiye’s objective of pioneering a new generation of unmanned combat aircraft capable of supplementing or replacing conventional crewed fighter aircraft. See our analysis of Türkiye’s next-generation combat aviation programs.

Altay Main Battle Tank: displayed by BMC represents Türkiye’s long-term effort to establish a fully indigenous heavy armoured warfare capability for the Turkish Armed Forces. Developed to replace aging armoured fleets and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, the main battle tank integrates advanced composite armour protection, digital fire-control systems, modern battlefield management technologies, and high-mobility performance optimised for modern mechanised warfare. The armoured vehicle is designed to survive against anti-tank guided missiles, loitering munitions, and conventional armoured threats while providing high-precision direct fire support during offensive operations. The Altay program remains strategically important for Türkiye’s military-industrial independence and the future modernisation of its armoured forces.

ALKA Kaplan Hybrid Autonomous Combat Vehicle: jointly developed by FNSS and Roketsan, showcased one of the most innovative combinations of armoured mobility and directed-energy defence technology presented during the exhibition. The tracked combat vehicle integrates the ALKA directed-energy weapon with autonomous targeting capabilities to counter unmanned aerial vehicles, loitering munitions, and asymmetric drone swarm attacks. Designed to protect manoeuvre forces against rapidly emerging low-altitude aerial threats, the combat vehicle combines electronic warfare functions, hard-kill defensive capability, and autonomous engagement technologies within a highly mobile armoured configuration. The increasing proliferation of battlefield drones has accelerated demand for mobile counter-drone combat vehicles capable of accompanying frontline armoured formations during high-intensity operations.

The defence products presented during SAHA Expo 2026 demonstrated that Türkiye’s defence industry is rapidly evolving beyond conventional modernisation programs toward advanced indigenous capabilities in hypersonic weapons, robotic warfare, unmanned combat aviation, autonomous naval strike assets, directed-energy defence, and next-generation armoured combat vehicles. The exhibition confirmed Ankara’s ambition to position itself among the world’s leading defence exporters while strengthening operational independence across every major military domain.

Team Maverick.