Turkey’s defense industry has achieved another significant export success with a high-technology unmanned system. The nano-class unmanned helicopter named “Nanoalp,” developed by Uludoğan Defense Industry Technology Inc., has attracted international attention thanks to its advanced capabilities, extremely quiet operation, and substantial cost advantage compared to its foreign counterparts. Developed under the TÜBİTAK 1501 Industrial R&D Support Program within Teknopark Istanbul, the system completed its R&D, commercialization, and export phases in a remarkably short period.

Uludoğan Defense Industry Technology Inc. Chairman Seyfeddin Cevdet Uludoğan stated that Nanoalp is currently produced with a 60 percent domestic content ratio, with plans to increase this figure to 96 percent within one year. He emphasized that investment support from Teknopark Istanbul’s High Technology Fund significantly accelerated both production and export processes, positioning Nanoalp as a strategic product for Turkey’s defense ecosystem.

Nano-class unmanned aerial systems are defined as platforms weighing under 200 grams and measuring less than 25 centimeters. Uludoğan highlighted that their company is the first producer of this class in Türkiye and the second in the world. Nanoalp distinguishes itself through fully autonomous flight, sensor fusion, extremely low acoustic signature, and a payload capacity exceeding that of comparable systems. Despite weighing only 100 grams, the platform can carry up to 350 grams of payload, making it highly effective for indoor and confined-space operations.

Nanoalp can operate in GPS-denied or heavily jammed environments, executing predefined missions entirely autonomously using onboard cameras and sensors. The system is capable of performing reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and even kamikaze-type missions when required. Its slow-rotating propeller enables near-silent flight, allowing it to approach within three meters without being detected—an especially critical advantage for land forces and special operations units.

The company has completed its first export to the United Arab Emirates and signed contracts with a total of five countries. In addition, strong interest has been received from South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, and several Middle Eastern countries. While foreign equivalents of this 100-gram platform can reach export values of up to 200,000 dollars, Nanoalp offers equivalent operational capability with up to 50 percent cost savings. Uludoğan noted that the annual market size for nano-class unmanned helicopters used in military reconnaissance, intelligence, and search-and-rescue missions ranges between 100 and 150 million dollars, and Nanoalp aims to reduce foreign dependency while generating high added value for Türkiye.