The EFES 2026 Exercise, held under Turkish leadership from April 11 to May 21, 2026, attracted global attention not only through multinational military maneuvers but also through the concurrent defense industry exhibition showcasing domestic and national technologies. One of the exhibition's notable moments was when Greek military personnel visited the ASELSAN booth and examined KILIÇ, Turkey's first autonomous kamikaze underwater vehicle. This image underscored the level of deterrence achieved by Turkish defense technology and demonstrated how closely neighboring countries monitor these developments.

ASELSAN first unveiled KILIÇ at the Istanbul Fair Center in May 2026. The launch ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of National Defense Bilal Durdalı, Commander of Naval Forces Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, ASELSAN CEO Ahmet Akyol, and BAYKAR Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar. The company introduced the system under the motto "New striking forces of the Blue Homeland," designed as a deterrent force element in maritime operations.

The KILIÇ autonomous kamikaze underwater vehicle was developed to detect and neutralize maritime targets. The system is classified as unmanned, single-use, and falls within the lightweight category, featuring a low-visibility profile with a compact and hydrodynamic design. Optimized for asymmetric naval warfare and underwater/surface operations, the platform distinguishes itself through high-precision strike capability, swarm operation capability, cable-guided control, and low detectability. The KILIÇ 10 lightweight version is designed for rapid deployment with its cost-effective and compact configuration.

The KILIÇ 200, the midweight representative of the product family, offers greater range and explosive capacity compared to the KILIÇ 10. This version provides unmanned surface vehicle deployment capability, integrated warhead with precision strike, swarm operation capability, and support for surface thermal and infrared camera systems. Both versions emerge as asymmetric force elements in the changing security dynamics of the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkish defense industry's localization efforts in the maritime domain have begun yielding concrete results through systems like KILIÇ. Autonomous underwater vehicles have become fundamental components of modern maritime defense strategy, offering high effectiveness at low cost. Similar systems are being developed worldwide, and Turkey's early initiative in this field plays an important role in regional naval power balance.

The examination of KILIÇ by foreign military personnel at the EFES 2026 Exercise demonstrates that Turkish defense technology attracts international attention and that regional countries assess these developments from a strategic perspective. The technologies featured in the exhibition served as an important platform for showcasing Turkey's progress in the defense sector.