The TOLGA laser weapon system, developed by engineers at Türkiye’s Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE), was used for the first time during the ATEŞ SERBEST-2026 exercise organised by the Turkish Ministry of National Defence.
MKE told Poligonjournal that the TOLGA laser weapon system successfully destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) target at a distance of 760 metres during the exercise.
With a total fibre laser power of 20 kW (4 × 5 kW), the system can be used against air, land and maritime threats. The laser weapon system is integrated into the TOLGA short-range air defence (SHORAD) system, developed under the “Effective – Simple – Low-Cost” approach, and can fully utilise its detection, tracking, command and control infrastructure.
The system offers three different engagement capabilities against aerial threats: dazzling, blinding and destruction. At ranges of 4,500–2,500 metres, it can target a threat’s camera to cause temporary blindness, while at ranges of 2,500–1,500 metres, it can cause permanent blinding. At distances of 1,500–100 metres, it neutralises targets by inflicting physical damage to their airframes.
The system’s turret features 360-degree movement and is built around linear motor technology, which directly converts electrical energy into linear motion. This technology enables detected threats to be tracked with high precision, speed and acceleration.
The TOLGA air defence system, into which the laser weapon has been integrated, also carried out a firing mission for the first time as part of the ATEŞ SERBEST event. Developed by MKE to counter fixed-wing kamikaze UAVs, drones, cruise missiles and other asymmetric aerial threats, the system conducted firing trials using 12.7 mm and 20 mm stationary and vehicle-mounted weapon turrets, as well as a 20 mm twin-barrel revolver-type weapon system.
The 20 mm twin-barrel revolver-type weapon system manufactured by MKE provides a high rate of fire against aerial threats. Each gun can fire 1,500 rounds per minute, while mounting two guns in a single turret raises the combined rate of fire to 3,000 rounds per minute.
In addition to various weapon systems, the MKE TOLGA system incorporates the GÖKBÖRÜ active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, an acoustic detection system, electro-optical sensors, an electronic warfare system and an advanced command and control infrastructure. These components enable detected and tracked threats to be engaged using electronic countermeasures, laser weapons and conventional gun systems.
Specially developed fragmentation anti-drone ammunition for MKE-manufactured 12.7 mm, 20 mm and 35 mm weapon systems also enables the physical destruction of aerial threats.
