Türkiye’s defense industry has taken another significant step forward in unmanned ground systems. The Kapgan Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), classified as a medium-class 2 platform, successfully completed its first live-fire trials at Samsun Yurt Savunma’s shooting range. Equipped with a turret developed by Unirobotics and armed with the Canik M2 QCB 12.7mm heavy machine gun, Kapgan demonstrated effective firing performance both during the day and at night, showcasing its combat potential on the battlefield.

The tests also marked a milestone as it was the first time the newly inducted Canik M2 QCB was integrated into an unmanned ground vehicle within the Turkish Armed Forces inventory. Presidency of Defense Industries Chairman İsmail Demir emphasized after the trials that Türkiye is determined to replicate its internationally recognized success in unmanned aerial vehicles with unmanned ground systems as well. He congratulated the companies involved in the development of Kapgan and expressed confidence in achieving even greater milestones in the near future.

HAVELSAN’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems Project Manager, Veysel Ataoğlu, underlined that Kapgan is not just a UGV but also a key component of the “digital unit” concept. He highlighted ongoing work on swarm algorithms and visual navigation systems for GPS-denied environments, stressing the vehicle’s advanced autonomy features. Ataoğlu also noted that promotional activities for Kapgan are intensifying both domestically and internationally, drawing significant attention.

With its strong firepower, advanced autonomous capabilities, and domestically produced systems, Kapgan UGV is poised to become an essential asset for the Turkish Armed Forces. Beyond strengthening Türkiye’s defense capabilities, this development also positions the country as a rising innovator in the global unmanned ground systems market.