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Turkish defense company ASELSAN unveiled a new generation of laser weapons, electronic warfare systems, and counter-drone technologies at the SAHA 2026 defense exhibition in Istanbul, signaling Türkiye’s push to expand its “Steel Dome” layered air defense network as militaries worldwide race to field combat-ready directed-energy weapons. The showcase highlights how counter-drone warfare is rapidly shifting toward laser interception systems designed to defeat mass UAV attacks at lower cost and with faster reaction times than conventional missile defenses.

Among the most important air defense systems presented was the Gokberk 10 laser weapon, a 10-kilowatt directed-energy system built to destroy drones with high precision while limiting collateral damage in urban combat zones, military installations, and critical infrastructure areas. The system reflects the growing global focus on scalable laser-based air defense technologies now being pursued by the United States, NATO allies, Russia, and China.

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ASELSAN’s Gokberk 10 laser weapon system displayed at SAHA 2026 in Istanbul as part of Türkiye’s expanding Steel Dome multi-layered air defense architecture designed to counter drone and loitering munition threats. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The unveiling of Gokberk 10 at SAHA 2026 demonstrates how the Turkish Defense industry is positioning directed-energy weapons as an operational component of future Turkish air defense strategy rather than an experimental capability. ASELSAN’s Gokberk 10 combines hard-kill laser engagement with advanced electro-optical detection and target-tracking systems to defeat small unmanned aerial systems, loitering munitions, and asymmetric low-altitude aerial threats while maintaining sustained firing capability without requiring repeated ammunition reloads.

The development reflects the growing importance of counter-drone warfare after conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Caucasus demonstrated how inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles can overwhelm conventional air defense systems. Traditional missile interceptors remain effective against aircraft and cruise missiles, but their high cost makes them increasingly unsuitable against large numbers of low-cost drones. Directed-energy weapons are therefore emerging as a critical solution because they offer near-instant engagement speed and significantly lower cost per shot.

Türkiye’s Steel Dome concept aims to integrate long-range missile defense systems, medium-range interceptors, radar networks, electronic warfare systems, and laser weapons into a unified command-and-control architecture. The objective is to create a layered defense network capable of responding simultaneously to cruise missiles, aircraft, loitering munitions, and drone swarms. ASELSAN’s growing role in electronic warfare and directed-energy systems indicates that Turkish defense planners increasingly view indigenous technologies as essential to reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

High-energy laser weapons are rapidly becoming operational tools for modern militaries, capable of destroying drones and aerial threats with extreme precision at the speed of light. This video examines advanced directed-energy systems developed by the United States, NATO countries, Russia, China, and Türkiye, and explains how laser weapons are reshaping the future of air defense and warfare.

The Gokberk 10 appears optimized primarily for tactical counter-drone operations rather than broader anti-aircraft missions. A 10-kilowatt laser generally provides sufficient energy to disable or destroy quadcopters, reconnaissance drones, and loitering munitions by damaging sensors, control systems, or propulsion components. This power class also allows relatively compact integration suitable for mobile deployments around military bases, government facilities, airports, and critical infrastructure.

One of the system’s most important operational advantages is its ability to operate effectively in urban environments where collateral damage from missile interceptors or anti-aircraft gunfire can present serious risks. Laser weapons destroy targets through concentrated thermal energy rather than explosive fragmentation, making them particularly suitable for defending populated areas against small drones. This requirement has become increasingly important following repeated drone attacks against urban infrastructure and strategic facilities in recent conflicts.

The emergence of systems like Gokberk 10 parallels major developments in directed-energy weapons underway in the United States. The U.S. Army’s Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) system integrates a 50-kilowatt laser onto a Stryker armored vehicle to counter drones, rockets, artillery rounds, and mortar threats. Developed by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, the system is intended to provide maneuver brigades with mobile protection against drone swarms and saturation attacks in contested environments.

The U.S. Navy has also accelerated deployment of ship-based laser weapons through the HELIOS directed-energy system integrated aboard Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. American military doctrine increasingly treats laser weapons as operationally necessary additions to layered air defense rather than future technologies. The Pentagon views directed-energy systems as a way to preserve expensive missile inventories while maintaining sustained defensive capability against mass drone attacks.

NATO countries are similarly expanding investments in counter-drone laser technologies following lessons learned from the Ukraine war. Germany’s Rheinmetall has tested high-energy laser systems capable of intercepting drones, artillery rounds, and mortar shells, while the United Kingdom continues development of the DragonFire laser weapon system for both land and naval operations. European defense planners increasingly regard directed-energy systems as essential for restoring favorable cost ratios in air defense operations against commercially derived drones adapted for military missions.

Unlike the more centralized Turkish model, NATO laser development remains divided among multiple national programs with varying procurement schedules and integration standards. Türkiye’s approach appears more unified, with ASELSAN and other domestic defense companies working toward a nationally controlled architecture integrating radar systems, electronic warfare assets, missile batteries, and directed-energy weapons into a single network.

Russia has also pursued directed-energy weapon technologies, although details surrounding operational deployment remain limited. Moscow’s Peresvet laser system is believed to focus primarily on strategic missions such as protecting critical military infrastructure and potentially disrupting satellite observation systems. During the war in Ukraine, Russian forces relied heavily on electronic warfare systems to jam drones, but repeated attacks by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles exposed persistent vulnerabilities in Russian counter-drone defenses.

Russian industry has reportedly developed smaller tactical laser systems intended for battlefield drone interception, though independently verified operational data remains scarce. Compared to Western systems that emphasize precision engagement and integrated layered defense, Russian development appears more focused on supplementing electronic warfare capabilities and on defending strategic facilities.

China has emerged as one of the world’s most aggressive developers of exportable laser weapon systems. Chinese defense manufacturers have publicly displayed multiple mobile directed-energy weapons designed to neutralize drones, helicopters, and precision-guided munitions. Among the best known is the Silent Hunter laser system, reportedly operating in the 30-kilowatt class and already exported to several foreign operators.

Beijing’s approach emphasizes scalable manufacturing, export competitiveness, and integration with artificial intelligence-assisted targeting systems. China’s large industrial base and sustained investment in photonics technologies provide substantial advantages in rapidly expanding production capacity for directed-energy systems. Chinese manufacturers are increasingly positioning themselves as lower-cost alternatives to Western suppliers in the growing global market for counter-drone defense systems.

Compared to American and Chinese systems, ASELSAN’s Gokberk 10 occupies a more tactical and infrastructure-defense-oriented niche. Its relatively compact configuration and urban defense focus indicate a mission profile centered on protecting military bases, government facilities, border installations, and critical national infrastructure from low-altitude drone threats. This operational focus aligns closely with evolving battlefield realities, in which small unmanned aerial systems have become one of the most persistent and economically disruptive threats.

The unveiling of Gokberk 10 also highlights Türkiye’s broader ambition to expand its indigenous defense industrial base into advanced directed-energy warfare technologies. Ankara has steadily increased investment in domestic radar systems, electronic warfare equipment, missile programs, unmanned systems, and network-centric command architectures as part of a long-term strategy to achieve greater strategic autonomy and export competitiveness.

SAHA 2026, therefore, represents more than a defense exhibition for Türkiye’s directed-energy ambitions. The public presentation of Gokberk 10 demonstrates that Ankara intends to become an active participant in the rapidly evolving global competition over counter-drone laser warfare technologies. As drone saturation tactics continue transforming modern combat operations, laser systems such as Gokberk 10 are increasingly likely to become standard components of future air defense networks protecting military forces, urban centers, and strategic infrastructure.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.

According to information published by the Saab Press Centre on June 17, 2025, Swedish defense and aerospace company Saab has signed a major contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to deliver Giraffe 4A radar systems along with associated support services to the Swedish Armed Forces. Valued at approximately 128 m€ (SEK 1.4 billion), the deliveries under this agreement are scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2027. This contract significantly strengthens Sweden’s mid-range radar sensor capabilities and supports its broader sensor system modernization strategy by integrating mobile, software-upgradable systems designed for long-term operational relevance.
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 Operating in the S-band and incorporating the latest Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology, the radar can detect and track hundreds of aerial and surface targets over a range exceeding 300 kilometers (Picture source: Saab)

Saab is a leading Swedish defense and security company specializing in advanced technologies across air, land, and naval domains. Renowned for its innovative radar and sensor solutions, Saab plays a key role in strengthening national and allied defense capabilities worldwide.

The Giraffe 4A is a state-of-the-art ground-based radar designed to perform simultaneous air surveillance and military air traffic control. Operating in the S-band and incorporating the latest Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology, the radar can detect and track hundreds of aerial and surface targets over a range exceeding 300 kilometers. Its rotating AESA antenna offers 360-degree coverage with superior update rates, and the system is capable of detecting low observable threats such as drones, cruise missiles, and RAM (Rockets, Artillery, Mortar) projectiles. Designed for network-centric operations, the radar is also equipped with built-in electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) and automatic target classification features, supporting enhanced situational awareness and interoperability across NATO and allied forces.

In the context of a rapidly deteriorating global security environment, characterized by the resurgence of near-peer threats and increasing reliance on aerial strike capabilities, Sweden’s acquisition of the Giraffe 4A reinforces its airspace sovereignty and resilience. This radar system provides a significant force multiplier by enabling early warning and quick response to aerial incursions, hybrid attacks, and drone swarms. As more nations modernize their air defense infrastructures to deter aggression and safeguard national borders, the Giraffe 4A stands out as a critical component of integrated air and missile defense networks. Its adoption not only elevates Sweden’s defense posture within the Nordic and Baltic regions but also serves as a benchmark for other European countries seeking agile, future-proof surveillance capabilities.

This contract also reflects Sweden’s broader strategic shift toward greater self-reliance in defense manufacturing and operational readiness amid growing geopolitical instability, particularly in the Baltic Sea and Arctic regions. With NATO membership now confirmed, Sweden is accelerating investments in interoperable and sovereign capabilities to meet alliance requirements while ensuring national control over critical technologies. Saab, as a cornerstone of Sweden’s defense industry, continues to expand its international footprint through the Giraffe radar family, which has already been selected by several NATO and partner nations, reinforcing its status as a globally competitive supplier of next-generation surveillance systems.