Türkiye Reveals at IDEF 2025 FNSS’s Hybrid Armored Platform Equipped With Roketsan’s Directed Energy Weapon System.

At IDEF 2025 in Istanbul, FNSS and Roketsan jointly unveiled an ambitious prototype that illustrates the convergence of energy-efficient mobility and directed-energy defense. The newly revealed Kaplan Hybrid Infantry Fighting Vehicle, now integrated with Roketsan’s ALKA Directed Energy Weapon System, signals a bold shift in Türkiye’s tactical vehicle development strategy. As drone warfare and loitering munitions increasingly challenge traditional air defense, the integration of a hybrid propulsion system and a counter-UAV laser module within a single platform reflects a forward-looking response to rapidly evolving threats. This development reinforces Türkiye’s push for indigenous solutions that are not only technologically competitive but tailored to modern operational realities.
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The launch of the Kaplan Hybrid equipped with Roketsan’s ALKA system not only introduces a novel combination of mobility and active protection but also sends a strategic message: the future battlefield will reward those who can integrate speed, stealth, and precision into a single, resilient platform (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The Kaplan Hybrid builds upon FNSS’s earlier work on its tracked IFV family but introduces a dual-motor configuration that combines conventional diesel propulsion with an electric drive, enabling rapid acceleration and near-silent movement in electric mode. According to a prior report, the vehicle can reach 32 km/h in under six seconds, offering enhanced agility in close-quarter combat and urban scenarios. Compared to its standard variant, the hybrid version provides improved fuel efficiency, a lower acoustic signature, and enhanced battlefield endurance. The chassis remains compatible with advanced fire control, command systems, and now, directed energy weapons.

The integration of Roketsan’s ALKA Directed Energy Weapon System (DEWS) further elevates the vehicle’s capability, transforming it into a mobile hybrid air defense platform. ALKA employs a two-layered defense architecture combining a Laser Weapon and an Electromagnetic Mixing System to counter asymmetric threats. Designed for mobile, portable, and stationary use, it detects drones using a dedicated radar and can simultaneously track up to 100 targets. ALKA engages aerial threats such as mini and micro UAVs, loitering munitions, and drone swarms, as well as land- and sea-based threats including roadside improvised explosive devices (IEDs), floating mines, and unmanned marine vehicles (UMVs). Targets are first disrupted by electromagnetic interference and then neutralized by a high-energy laser with ranges up to 750 meters (at 2.5 kW) and 1,500 meters (at 5 kW). Operational both day and night, ALKA provides a reusable and cost-effective solution for force protection and convoy security, particularly in environments where threat saturation and low reaction times challenge traditional kinetic defenses.

The convergence of these two technologies, hybrid propulsion and laser air defense, echoes broader trends in global armored vehicle development, seen in efforts such as the U.S. Army's laser-equipped Stryker or the German Skyranger HEL. However, the Kaplan Hybrid’s simultaneous focus on reducing its operational footprint and enhancing its anti-drone capabilities in a single, export-ready platform sets it apart. Geostrategically, this reflects Türkiye’s growing emphasis on autonomous, low-signature systems that can dominate in asymmetrical or hybrid warfare environments. The system could prove decisive in regions where drone saturation has become a persistent threat, including Türkiye’s own border zones or forward-operating deployments. The use of laser systems also positions the country in a select group of nations actively fielding directed energy in ground combat.

The unveiling at IDEF strongly suggests FNSS and Roketsan are aligning their roadmaps with expected procurement needs of the Turkish Armed Forces. FNSS has already exported Kaplan-based platforms to Indonesia, while Roketsan continues to scale its ALKA system across both fixed and mobile applications. The modularity of both systems suggests a potential for broader integration across other tracked or wheeled platforms in Türkiye’s inventory, particularly for those units tasked with convoy protection or base perimeter security. The fact that this integration appears to be in an advanced prototype phase suggests readiness for trial deployments or pilot series production.

The launch of the Kaplan Hybrid equipped with Roketsan’s ALKA system not only introduces a novel combination of mobility and active protection but also sends a strategic message: the future battlefield will reward those who can integrate speed, stealth, and precision into a single, resilient platform. This demonstration at IDEF 2025 underscores Türkiye’s growing confidence in its domestic defense ecosystem and its intent to shape the next generation of armored combat through energy-efficient design and laser-based survivability.