TUFAN, a new kamikaze unmanned surface vessel (USV) developed by ASELSAN and built by ARES Shipyard, was launched during TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan 2026 at Gölcük Naval Shipyard Command in Kocaeli, marking its first public appearance on the water.
ARES Shipyard shared on LinkedIn that it leads TUFAN’s design, construction and platform production. In the social-media announcement, the company said the vessel had been launched and had completed sea trials. The announcement did not provide further details on the trials, including their location, duration or the systems evaluated.
TUFAN was first unveiled at SAHA EXPO 2026 in Istanbul, where ASELSAN presented it as part of a new portfolio of unmanned maritime systems. The company describes the vessel as an 8.1-metre USV intended for offensive and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
According to ASELSAN, TUFAN is powered by a gasoline engine driving a waterjet propulsion system. The configuration is intended to provide speed and manoeuvrability. The maximum speed is claimed to be 50+ knots, and the range 200 nautical miles at 35 knots.
The USV is fitted with an unspecified high-explosive insensitive warhead. ASELSAN states that TUFAN is designed to engage surface targets, coastal infrastructure and other designated assets. As an expendable strike platform, it is intended to deliver its payload by colliding with a target.
ASELSAN also says the system can operate individually or in coordinated groups. The company describes this as distributed swarm intelligence, with vessels able to form mission sub-groups for reconnaissance, surveillance and strike tasks. Navigation, obstacle avoidance and target detection are supported by vision-based systems, according to the company.
Communications are described as multi-layered and the platform is designed for integration into naval command networks. Publicly available material does not specify the communications links, degree of autonomy, control arrangements, sensor suite or the warhead’s weight.
TUFAN’s launch comes amid continued Turkish industry activity in unmanned maritime systems, including surface and subsurface platforms. The programme combines ASELSAN’s role as system developer with ARES Shipyard’s responsibility for the vessel’s platform work.
TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan was held from 20 to 23 August at Gölcük Naval Shipyard Command. The event was organised under the main leadership of Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense and the Turkish Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation). It was the second TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan event; the first was held in Istanbul in 2025.
The 2026 programme focused on maritime and underwater technologies, with unmanned underwater systems, underwater rocket and unmanned maritime vehicle competitions alongside naval displays and demonstrations. TUFAN’s appearance at the event provided the first public indication that the platform has progressed from its SAHA EXPO unveiling to waterborne trials.
The vessel was displayed during an event that brought together naval platforms, unmanned systems and technologies. Official TEKNOFEST material listed ship visits, exhibitions and demonstrations among its activities. TUFAN appeared in this setting as an industry exhibit rather than as an announced Turkish Navy in-service platform. Neither ASELSAN nor ARES Shipyard has announced procurement, production quantities, delivery schedules, export customers or an entry-into-service date.
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