Turkey’s defense industry continues to strengthen its presence at sea with the successful development of the unmanned surface vehicle (USV) named OKHAN. Produced by Kayacı Defense within Mersin Technopark, the project began in 2018 and was carried out in cooperation with the Turkish Coast Guard Command. Designed to operate in harsh maritime conditions, OKHAN underwent a series of demanding sea trials — all of which it passed with flying colors.

With a length of 11.5 meters and a weight of 7 tons, OKHAN is powered by a 390-horsepower engine, allowing it to reach speeds of 27 knots (around 50 km/h). The vehicle can travel up to 350 nautical miles and perform autonomous obstacle avoidance maneuvers. Equipped with radar, thermal imaging, and night vision cameras, OKHAN uses artificial intelligence to make independent operational decisions.

According to Prof. Dr. Caner Özdemir, R&D Director at Kayacı Defense and a faculty member at Mersin University, OKHAN was developed entirely within Turkey’s defense ecosystem. “The vehicle performs surveillance, reconnaissance, and patrol missions autonomously. It will first be deployed by the Turkish Coast Guard,” Özdemir said. He also noted that OKHAN can be easily converted into an armed or kamikaze unmanned surface vehicle through modular system integration. The platform, design, and software were all developed locally in Mersin.

Coordinated by the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), OKHAN has successfully completed all qualification tests and is now in the final stage before entering inventory. Supported by the Mersin Governorship, Mersin University, and the Mersin Chamber of Commerce, the project has drawn significant attention at both domestic and international defense fairs. Experts highlight OKHAN’s strong export potential, emphasizing Turkey’s growing capability to produce advanced unmanned systems both in the air and at sea.