Türkiye supplied ASELSAN-produced KORKUT air defence systems to Ukraine in 2026. According to a report by Middle East Eye citing a Ukrainian official, the system was tested in the field against Russian UAV attacks and delivered effective results. KORKUT has thus joined the ranks of "combat-proven" systems.
Tested in the Field, Minor Revisions Required
According to the report in Middle East Eye and statements by the Ukrainian official, Türkiye sent a limited number of KORKUT systems to Ukraine in order to test the system directly on the battlefield and gather feedback from the Ukrainian military. A Ukrainian official confirmed that the system was effective against Russian attacks. However, it was noted that minor revisions were required to address certain issues encountered under operational conditions.
Ukraine Wants to Acquire More KORKUT Systems
The government in Kyiv appears satisfied with the system's performance in the field. The Ukrainian official said they would like to purchase more KORKUT systems if the price is suitable. It was emphasised that price will be the determining factor on economic grounds. The report did not specify how many systems Ukraine received.
What Is KORKUT?
KORKUT is a gun-based low-altitude air defence system developed by ASELSAN and in service with the Turkish Armed Forces. A standard KORKUT battery consists of three combat vehicles and one command vehicle. The system is designed to engage aerial targets, including UAVs and cruise missiles. Positioned in the low-altitude layer of Türkiye's multi-layered air defence architecture, ÇELİKKUBBE, KORKUT had previously been displayed at the Eastern Shield 2026 exercise in Romania.
The field use of KORKUT in Ukraine is significant in that it provides concrete data on the performance of Turkish air defence systems under real combat conditions. The system gaining "combat-proven" status is regarded as a development that will also strengthen ASELSAN's position in the international market.
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