Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi (MKE), Turkey’s state-owned defense industry, has unveiled its kamikaze unmanned surface vessel PİRANA (USV), a system designed to serve as an attack asset for the Turkish Navy.
According to the company, the PİRANA was designed under an “effective, simple, and low-cost” concept, developed for maritime operations as part of a broader push to acquire attack assets beyond land and air systems.
The system operates as a “kamikaze” drone boat, designed to approach and strike targets such as ships or coastal infrastructure without a crew onboard. Its combination of speed, range, and remote-control capabilities is intended to complicate detection and interception in contested maritime environments.
The PİRANA is capable of reaching speeds exceeding 40 knots and was designed for high maneuverability in time-sensitive operations. It carries a 100-kilogram warhead and has a mission range of over 200 nautical miles, enabling it to strike targets at long distances.
The maritime drone can operate both individually and as part of a swarm. In a swarm scenario, some vessels are intended to draw the attention of enemy radar and air defense systems, while others approach the target with a low radar cross-section and detonate a warhead to destroy it.
According to MKE, the system is equipped with radio frequency (RF) and SATCOM communications, allowing it to be remotely controlled or operate autonomously. Satellite connectivity enables long-range command and control, removing geographical limitations on its use and allowing operators to guide the vessel from long distances.
Photo: MKE. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
