Türkiye unveils next-gen VTOL drones to extend unmanned naval reach

Turkish defence firm Havelsan has unveiled a new generation of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones designed to strengthen naval operations and extend the reach of unmanned maritime platforms.

According to Daily Sabah, the systems — developed at Havelsan’s Robotic Autonomous Systems Centre — can operate independently or in tandem with ships, ground vehicles, and unmanned surface vessels. They are equipped with runway-independent take-off and landing, autonomous mission control, and modular payloads for reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence gathering.

First overseas deployment in Malaysia

In a deal with DESAN Shipyard, one of the drones, BOZBEY, will be integrated onto a 99-metre multipurpose mission ship destined for Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). The contract includes training, logistics, and long-term support.

Havelsan says BOZBEY will be able to launch and land directly on the vessel, transmitting live imagery and coordinates beyond line of sight — a first for the firm’s naval drone systems abroad.

Expanding naval reach

The drones have varying endurance and payloads: BULUT can carry 5kg for six hours, BOZBEY 3kg for six hours, and BAHA 2kg for two hours. Integration with ships allows reconnaissance and intelligence collection far from shore while reducing the workload of human crews.

Strategic edge at sea

Havelsan highlights that the drones can coordinate with other platforms through its command-and-control system, offering resilience against electronic warfare and operational flexibility in poor weather conditions.

Beyond military use, the drones could be deployed for disaster response, border patrols, and search-and-rescue operations, where traditional access may be limited.