The Turkish defense industry has reached another milestone by expanding the operational role of unmanned aerial vehicles beyond detection and surveillance. A groundbreaking capability has now been introduced for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (KBRN) threats: direct on-site decontamination using drones. At the center of this transformation is the PUHU-KBRN unmanned aerial system developed by Zyrone Dynamics.

PUHU-KBRN stands out as the world’s first drone system designed specifically for direct KBRN decontamination and successfully productized for operational use. Its acceptance into NATO’s inventory marks a historic first, redefining the role of unmanned systems in KBRN operations. Until now, prevailing assessments—also reflected in NATO-related studies—suggested that drones lacked the endurance and range required for decontamination missions and could only be employed for reconnaissance. PUHU-KBRN has challenged and overturned this assumption through proven field performance.

Built on the ZD300 platform, which entered service in 2024, PUHU-KBRN can transport up to 25 kilograms of liquid or powdered KBRN decontamination agents to contaminated areas up to 10 kilometers away. The system is capable of decontaminating personnel, vehicles, shelters, facilities, and terrain in a single sortie and returning safely without the need for recharging. This ability to complete the entire operational cycle in one flight makes PUHU-KBRN a unique force multiplier in counter-KBRN missions.

The platform integrates advanced electronic and navigation systems, including CRPA antennas, multi-source position verification, visual navigation, and both line-of-sight (LOS) and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) data links. Supported by onboard artificial intelligence and autonomous survivability systems, PUHU-KBRN can operate effectively in environments dominated by electronic jamming and deception. Its modular payload architecture allows reconfiguration for different missions in approximately one minute, enabling seamless use in logistics and multi-purpose operations beyond KBRN tasks.

Equipped with an advanced smart battery and energy management system, PUHU-KBRN can operate across a wide temperature range and under harsh environmental conditions. The system has been tested and certified in accordance with the MIL-STD-810G military standard, including operations in heavy dust, intense rain, and challenging climates. By enabling decontamination without exposing personnel to hazardous zones, PUHU-KBRN represents not only a technological breakthrough but also a doctrinal shift for NATO’s approach to KBRN operations.