Turkey has introduced the ALKA-KAPLAN, a hybrid combat vehicle armed with a high-energy laser weapon to detect, jam, and destroy drones on the battlefield.
Developed jointly by FNSS and ROKETSAN, the platform merges the KAPLAN HYBRID tracked vehicle with the ALKA Directed Energy Weapon System, forming a quiet, hybrid-powered drone killer.
It is equipped with various payloads such as cameras, mission kits, and image-aided navigation to support remote and autonomous operation.
Unlike systems that rely on interceptors, the ALKA-KAPLAN first jams incoming drones before burning them out with a directed laser. It is designed to neutralize a range of aerial threats, from quadcopters and rotary drones to loitering munitions.
The vehicle also uses image-assisted targeting and GPS-denied navigation systems, expanding its effectiveness against more advanced drone types.
Beyond air defense, the system can support counter-IED missions by clearing unexploded ordnance in high-risk zones.
Silent, Smart, and Locally Built
At the core of the system is a domestically built hybrid powerpack developed by FNSS, which powers both the vehicle and the energy-intensive laser system without needing an auxiliary generator.
The hybrid setup allows for extended silent watch, reduced heat signature, and improved fuel efficiency, stretching idle range by over 10 percent.
An onboard AI system helps the platform rapidly detect and track targets, while its modular design makes it suitable for fixed, mobile, or portable deployment.
Engineers behind the platform said other critical components are locally produced, including a homegrown cross-drive gearbox, sidestepping the need for foreign suppliers.
