During the Ateş Serbest 2026 exercise, ground-commanded unmanned aerial vehicles destroyed a sniper team firing from a built-up area with pinpoint accuracy. The most striking aspect of the operation was where the UAVs took off from: a rotating carrier system integrated into a guard post, with a capacity of 30 UAVs.
30 UAVs Taking Off from a Guard Post
The MİKON Gözükara systems developed by DASAL Aviation Technologies were integrated into a monobloc guard post named "Beehive." The rotating carrier placed inside the post can accommodate 30 UAVs simultaneously. When the retractable roof opens, the UAVs take off vertically. During the exercise, soldiers stationed in an underground position commanded the UAVs via this system and destroyed the sniper team firing from the built-up area with pinpoint accuracy. This structure provides far lower visibility compared with conventional UAV launch methods. The system has been designed to be integrated into existing defence infrastructures.
The UAV That Creates an Invisibility Screen with Smoke
Another operation that drew attention during the exercise was the MİKON UAV's airborne smoke-screening mission. Triggering the smoke bomb in the air, the UAV carried out dense and uninterrupted smoke screening for approximately 15 minutes. Continuing its flight unaffected by the high temperature and dense smoke released during this period, MİKON provided tactical concealment advantage to the units in the field. The operation demonstrated that the UAV can be adapted to different mission profiles and can operate under challenging conditions.
Autonomous Munitions Resupply to the Front Line
The PUHU C75 Cargo UAV, in the inventory of the Land Forces Command, also assumed a strategic role during the exercise. Providing munitions support to units on the front line through a fully autonomous flight, the PUHU C75 established logistics resupply security on the battlefield. The exercise concluded with the waving of the closing pennant carried by the PUHU C75 and a salute to distinguished observers.
"We Produce Systems Suited to Realities in the Field"
DASAL Aviation Technologies General Manager Kutay Çağıl Büyüköztürk assessed the systems' success in the field. "The changing dynamics of the battlefield make autonomous and jointly operable systems a necessity," said Büyüköztürk, adding: "The fact that our systems were used by our heroic army itself at Ateş Serbest 2026 and fulfilled their missions with pinpoint accuracy is the most concrete indication of our engineering strength and field experience."
Who Is DASAL?
Founded in 2019 by Altınay Defence Technologies with the aim of developing rotary-wing autonomous UAVs, DASAL produces UAVs in four categories: mini, light, medium and heavy class. The company has a 10,000-square-metre infrastructure, including its head office in Istanbul Kurtköy and production lines at various locations. DASAL holds a Production Permit Certificate from the Ministry of National Defence, ISO 9001 certification, and National and NATO Classified Facility Security Clearances. The company continues export contacts in the Middle East, Africa, the Far East and the Turkic Republics.
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