HAVELSAN, one of Turkey’s leading defense industry companies, has officially announced the start of mass production for its BARKAN unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). First introduced into the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory in 2023, BARKAN has demonstrated strong performance in real operational conditions. After extensive testing and feedback from the field, the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) approved the decision to proceed with serial production — a significant milestone for Turkey’s autonomous land systems capabilities.

Following the SSB’s decision, HAVELSAN expanded its engineering team to strengthen technical capacities and meet the growing production demands. The company has also incorporated new and highly capable subcontractors into its production ecosystem, ensuring efficiency and quality in every phase of the manufacturing process. Leveraging its expertise in software and autonomous technologies, HAVELSAN continues to enhance BARKAN’s operational capabilities and software performance.

One of BARKAN’s standout features is its swarm operation capability. HAVELSAN General Manager Mehmet Akif Nacar emphasized that BARKAN is designed to operate seamlessly not only as a single unit but also in coordination with other unmanned ground and aerial systems. This interoperability provides a major advantage in modern battlefield environments, where network-centric operations are increasingly critical.

HAVELSAN is also utilizing its strong simulation technologies to support BARKAN’s development and testing phases. By combining field trials with simulation-based assessments, the company ensures that BARKAN remains one of the most capable and reliable vehicles in its class. HAVELSAN officials stated that the decision to move into mass production is both a reward for years of dedicated work and a major motivation for the entire team working on the project.