Turkish defence company ASELSAN has conducted a demonstration test of its GÖKALP interceptor drone system at the Oğulbey Technology Base in Ankara.
According to information provided by ASELSAN to Polygonjournal, the test demonstrated the GÖKALP interceptor drone system’s capabilities to detect and destroy enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in mid-air.
Developed by ASELSAN, the GÖKALP system detects threats using radar and electro-optical systems and autonomously neutralises enemy UAVs. Its vehicle-integrated design makes it a mobile and cost-effective solution for countering threats posed by unmanned aerial vehicles.
During the demonstration, the AURA radar detected the target UAV and transmitted the data obtained in real time to the GÖKALP E1 interceptor drone via the command-and-control software of the DRONEDEF system. The GÖKALP E1 then intercepted and destroyed the target using the hit-to-kill method, in which the target is neutralised through direct physical impact.
DRONEDEF constitutes the counter-UAV layer of Türkiye’s Steel Dome (Çelik Kubbe), an integrated, multilayered air defence architecture. The system combines detection, command-and-control, and countermeasure capabilities within a unified framework to enable a coordinated response to UAV threats.
The GÖKALP demonstration successfully showcased the integrated operation of the system’s individual components and its ability to intercept targets in a test environment simulating real-world conditions.
