One of Türkiye’s most established defense industry companies, Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi (MKE), continues to expand its portfolio in unmanned systems with the introduction of its new kamikaze unmanned surface vehicle (USV), PİRANA. Designed to reshape the dynamics of modern naval warfare, PİRANA is preparing to enter the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces while also drawing significant international attention.

PİRANA is defined as a next-generation, autonomous and semi-autonomous kamikaze USV. With a remarkable operational range of 200 nautical miles and high-speed capability, the platform can rapidly reach and engage designated targets. It carries a 100-kilogram warhead, entirely designed, manufactured, and successfully tested by MKE. This payload capacity positions PİRANA as a serious threat against enemy surface vessels, offshore platforms, and critical coastal infrastructure.

One of the system’s standout capabilities is its multi-platform control architecture. PİRANA can be operated via satellite communication as well as controlled directly from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). During testing phases, Turkish indigenous UAVs successfully commanded and guided PİRANA to its target. This cross-domain integration significantly enhances joint operational capability, enabling seamless coordination between air and naval assets in modern combat scenarios.

Another critical advantage of PİRANA lies in its low radar cross-section. Engineers at MKE’s Advanced Materials Laboratory developed a specialized radar-absorbing coating that minimizes detectability, making the platform extremely difficult to track. Moreover, PİRANA is designed to operate in swarm configurations. In such missions, certain units may deliberately lack radar-absorbing coatings, acting as decoys to distract enemy defenses. While adversaries focus on these visible “decoy” units, the primary strike element penetrates defenses and successfully engages the target. This tactical concept has the potential to become a game-changing factor in naval warfare.

According to MKE officials, PİRANA is scheduled to enter the Turkish Armed Forces inventory within this year. The platform has already attracted strong interest from international markets, particularly in the Middle East, with preliminary agreements reportedly signed. An official export contract is expected to be finalized in 2026, marking another milestone in Türkiye’s growing defense export success.