The experience Türkiye has gained over the past 15 years in unmanned systems has now transformed into a significant international success in loitering munitions. Lentatek, leveraging its long-standing expertise in UAV technologies, has developed a comprehensive family of loitering munitions—also known as kamikaze UAVs—designed to meet evolving tactical battlefield needs. The first major milestone of this product family was achieved through an export agreement with a friendly and allied country.

Lentatek General Manager Öner Tekin stated that the company had conducted extensive R&D activities using both internal resources and external support. As these projects matured, they evolved into a complete product family. Tekin emphasized that the company did not limit itself to its initial product targets; instead, it incorporated feedback from global customers to design a versatile system that addresses modern operational demands. By tailoring an existing main product to the requirements of the purchasing country—equipping it with specialized sensors and adapting its capabilities—Lentatek successfully finalized an export contract. Deliveries are scheduled to begin this year and will be completed by mid-next year.

Highlighting the growing importance of loitering munitions on the modern battlefield, Tekin explained that operational needs now extend from long-endurance, high-altitude systems with greater operational costs to more affordable versions capable of frequent use and even swarm operations. Lentatek has designed a product family that spans this entire spectrum, ensuring that no tactical requirement is left unaddressed. Demand for each model shows the company is on the right track, strengthening Lentatek’s goal of supporting Türkiye’s defense needs while boosting defense exports.

Operationally, loitering munitions play a pivotal role in suppressing enemy integrated air defense systems. Launched from mobile canisters, the munition can loiter in enemy airspace for extended periods, forcing enemy air defense radars to shut down or operate in a restricted state. Its seeker head identifies the target—such as radar emitters or designated threats—and the onboard warhead neutralizes it with high precision. This capability is critical for degrading enemy air defense networks and enhancing the survivability of friendly strike elements.

Lentatek positions itself as one of the world’s prominent unmanned systems companies. With this vision, it continues to work intensively to meet the defense needs of Türkiye and contribute significantly to increasing national defense exports. The export success of the indigenous loitering munition family marks an important milestone, showcasing both the company’s strategic capabilities and the global competitiveness of the Turkish defense industry.