ASELSAN Presents GÜRZ Autonomous Air Defense System at IDEF 2025 Strengthening Low-Altitude Protection.

Showcased during IDEF 2025 in Istanbul, the GÜRZ unmanned air defense system unveiled by ASELSAN represents a significant milestone in the evolution of Türkiye’s autonomous military capabilities. This system is designed to address the growing threat of low-altitude attacks by drones, missiles, and helicopters, an increasingly critical concern on modern battlefields. With its capacity for autonomous or remote operation, GÜRZ responds to the operational realities of multi-domain conflict where speed, mobility, and decentralized decision-making are decisive. In a strategic context marked by high-intensity warfare and drone saturation tactics, GÜRZ emerges as a timely and technically relevant solution for frontline defense forces.
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As the proliferation of drones and low-flying precision weapons continues to transform the nature of conflict, GÜRZ offers a decisive technological edge not only for Türkiye but also for allied nations preparing for tomorrow’s air defense challenges (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

GÜRZ is a mobile, very short-range air defense system equipped with a hybrid armament architecture combining gun and missile interceptors. What distinguishes it from legacy systems is its onboard artificial intelligence, enabling it to operate autonomously or under remote supervision. The system is natively integrated into Türkiye’s national air defense network through compatibility with the HERİKKS and HAKİM command systems, ensuring that it operates not in isolation, but as part of a broader, layered defense posture. Designed to counter rotary-wing aircraft, loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and micro-UAVs, GÜRZ offers rapid reaction capabilities and can be deployed flexibly to protect moving units or static infrastructure without permanent emplacement requirements.

Although publicly revealed for the first time at IDEF 2025, GÜRZ reflects several years of development rooted in ASELSAN’s broader doctrine of autonomous warfare and electromagnetic countermeasures. Drawing on lessons from recent conflicts where UAVs have overwhelmed traditional air defenses, the company prioritized rapid detection, autonomous engagement, and seamless command integration. The system’s design incorporates components and subsystems developed through prior programs such as the KORKUT and GÖKDENİZ gun systems, but re-engineered to operate unmanned and with a stronger focus on real-time AI-based threat processing. This development approach allowed ASELSAN to quickly transition from concept to a field-ready prototype optimized for complex air defense scenarios.

The GÜRZ system sets itself apart from traditional VSHORAD platforms by offering both kinetic flexibility and AI-enabled autonomy. Compared to legacy systems like the German Skyshield or the U.S. Avenger, which require human-operated fire control and are often limited to one form of interception, GÜRZ provides an expanded engagement envelope through its dual-mode weaponry. The inclusion of AI not only reduces reaction times but allows the system to function effectively even in electronic warfare environments where human operators may be overwhelmed. This positions GÜRZ on the same trajectory as emerging Western systems such as Rheinmetall’s Skyranger 30, but with the added advantage of integration into an already operational national defense command structure. The Turkish system’s interoperability with NATO-standard networks further increases its export appeal to allied nations seeking agile counter-drone and short-range air defense solutions.

GÜRZ also carries notable strategic and geopolitical weight. It reflects Türkiye’s growing investment in technological sovereignty, especially in key military sectors such as air defense, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems. As Turkish forces continue to operate in dynamic threat environments across the Syrian, Iraqi, and Eastern Mediterranean theaters, GÜRZ provides an adaptive solution that aligns with the need for mobile, rapidly deployable air defense. On a regional level, the system strengthens Türkiye’s deterrence against state and non-state actors relying increasingly on drone swarms and low-altitude munitions. From a NATO perspective, GÜRZ enhances collective defense by offering a scalable and exportable platform compatible with alliance C4ISR frameworks. Its presence at IDEF 2025 underscores Türkiye’s intention to play a more assertive role in shaping the next generation of battlefield technologies and contributing to allied capability modernization.

With the unveiling of the GÜRZ unmanned air defense system, ASELSAN has delivered a compelling response to the demands of contemporary warfare. Combining mobility, hybrid firepower, artificial intelligence, and networked integration, the system provides a model for how autonomous platforms can enhance frontline survivability and operational coherence in the face of asymmetric threats. As the proliferation of drones and low-flying precision weapons continues to transform the nature of conflict, GÜRZ offers a decisive technological edge not only for Türkiye but also for allied nations preparing for tomorrow’s air defense challenges.