The TOLGA Close Air Defense System and the PİRANA kamikaze unmanned marine vehicle, developed by the Machinery and Chemical Industry (MKE), exhibited their capabilities within the scope of the National Unmanned Naval Systems Exercise TURNAs-2026. On the Distinguished Observer Day of the exercise held in the Gulf of Antalya and the Eastern Mediterranean on October 25, TOLGA fired from a warship and destroyed air and sea targets for the first time. PİRANA was controlled via Bayraktar TB2 and hit the surface target.
TOLGA Fired from a Warship for the First Time
The 20 mm dual-armed revolver system within MKE's TOLGA Close Air Defense System was integrated into a warship for the first time and fired. The system successfully destroyed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and unmanned marine vehicle (UAV) targets in the firings made from TCG BEYKOZ in the Turkish Naval Forces inventory.
TOLGA's stabilization capability also came to the fore in the activities carried out in the marine environment where the ship moved. This capability contributes to maintaining target orientation and shooting effectiveness while the platform is in motion.
The 20 mm system, which has a capacity of 3,200 shots per minute, is being developed for use against close-range air and surface threats with particle-effect anti-UAV ammunition. According to the data announced by MKE, the effective range of the system is approximately 1,000 meters.
Testing TOLGA on a ship is important in terms of evaluating the system on naval platforms as well as its land-based use. Solutions for protecting ships against imminent threats, especially small UAVs and kamikaze unmanned marine vehicles, are among the important topics of modern sea defense.
PIRANA was controlled via Bayraktar TB2
The second prominent development in the exercise was the PİRANA kamikaze unmanned marine vehicle developed by MKE, which was controlled via Bayraktar TB2 and attacked the surface target. The vehicle destroyed its target with its 100-kilogram warhead.
PİRANA had previously hit a surface target in Exercise SEAWOLF. The activity within the scope of TURNAs-2026 was recorded as the second successful target destruction carried out by the system in the exercise environment.
Controlling it from the aerial platform is a demonstration of the ability of the unmanned marine vehicle to be used with different platforms. This approach is important in terms of remote navigation and management of unmanned vehicles on the sea surface and improving coordination between air and sea elements.
PIRANA'S Speed Exceeds 40 Knots, Its Mission Range Exceeds 200 Nautical Miles
According to the technical information shared by MKE, the prominent features of PİRANA are as follows:
Maximum speed: over 40 knots
Mission range: over 200 nautical miles
Warhead: 100 kilograms
Communications: RF and satellite communications (SATCOM)
Task type: Remote controlled or autonomous operation
Operation concept: Single use and ability to operate in swarms
RF and SATCOM communication infrastructure aims to enable the vehicle to be controlled at different distances. Autonomous mission capability and swarm concept offer options for using the system in different naval operational scenarios.
PİRANA's high speed and declared mission range are among the main features that support the use of the platform in missions against surface targets.
Interoperability of Unmanned Systems was Tested at TURNAs-2026
National Unmanned Maritime Systems Exercise-2026 included activities in which not only sea vehicles but also air and land elements were used together. 18 ships, 11 aircraft and approximately 1,300 personnel participated in the Distinguished Observer Day of the exercise.
Scenarios such as reconnaissance and surveillance, mine detection and destruction, coastal missions and the use of unmanned systems in different operational environments were carried out during the activities. Improving the interoperability of manned and unmanned platforms and evaluating the performance of systems developed by the defense industry in sea conditions were also among the objectives of the exercise.
The shots made by TOLGA from TCG BEYKOZ and PİRANA hitting its target by controlling it from Bayraktar TB2 were the prominent demonstrations in this context.
New Demonstration in Domestic Close Defense and Unmanned Naval Systems
The capabilities exhibited at TURNAs-2026 provided important data regarding the use of MKE's products in both close air defense and unmanned marine vehicles with different platforms.
While TOLGA's firing from the warship represented a new stage in terms of the integration of the system to naval platforms, controlling PİRANA from the air platform revealed the importance of coordination between unmanned systems.
The results shown in the exercise reveal the capabilities in the relevant scenarios. Evaluation of the operational performance of the systems against different threats and sea conditions will be shaped by ongoing tests and usage experience.
