The 8th Konya Science Festival hosted a groundbreaking innovation in defense technology: the unveiling of “Eren,” the world’s first laser-armed drone. Developed through collaboration between the Turkish National Police and TÜBİTAK, the system was included in the 2022 Defense and Security Project Portfolio by the Presidency of Defense Industries. With its advanced capabilities, “Eren” attracted significant attention from visitors at the festival.

Eren has a flight range of 3,000 meters and is designed primarily for bomb disposal missions. Having successfully completed its test firings, the drone demonstrated its ability to pierce 3-millimeter-thick carbon steel using its laser weapon. This technology is expected to greatly enhance the safety and efficiency of future security operations. According to Deputy Commissioner Aykut Eroğlu, what makes Eren unique is that it is the first drone in the world to integrate a laser weapon into a rotary-wing unmanned aerial system.

Although Eren is not yet in active use, it is expected to undergo further development and eventually enter the Turkish defense industry’s inventory. This innovation reinforces Turkey’s role as a pioneer in unmanned systems and advanced defense technologies. Alongside Eren, other bomb disposal robots and security technologies were also showcased at the festival, underlining the growing role of innovation in national defense.