Turkey's Tollga Air Defense System Successfully Shooting Down Drones In Trial

JAKARTA - Turkey's defense company, MKE, successfully tested a new Tolga anti-drone system that succeeded in crippling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as part of a test scenario last month.

The domestically developed system tests, with layered air defense capabilities against mini and micro UAVs, tactical drones, cruise missiles, and smart ammunition, were carried out at the Command of the National Ministry of Defense's Karap FIRE and Evaluation Group for the National Defense Ministry in Konya province, central Turkey.

The company introduced the system earlier this year at the 2025 International Defense Industry Exhibition (IDEF), which was held in Istanbul.

The Near-Tollga Air Drone Defense System is developed to counter the security threats of a new generation. This system, which includes command and control centers, radar systems, a special developed cup gun, and a family of ammunition, provides a layered and integrated defense shield against drones, according to Daily Sabah and Anadolu November 16.

This system combines the ability of electronic vandalism and physical destruction.

According to a prepared soft-kill scenario, an enemy drone about 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) was detected by radar, identified via electro-optical, and then shot down using an electronic exhaust system.

In the hard-kill scenario, two cannons remain 12.7 mm, a 12.7 mm rotating gun mounted on the vehicle, and a 20 mm armament system destroys drones that carry out close-range attacks at low altitude. Using anti-drone ammunition designed to form metal clouds around the target with its fragmentation structure, the system increases the probability of being hit to high levels.

Meanwhile, MKE General Manager Ilhami Kele Way told reporters after the trial, the Tollga MKE system has successfully demonstrated its ability to attack real targets in real scenarios with real shots.

Kelewas noted that trials were carried out using the same type of drone as those widely used in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Stressing the Tolga system offers an integrated solution incorporating soft-kill and hard-kill capabilities, including command and control, radar, electro-optical, electronic disrupt, armament systems, and specially developed anti-drone ammunition, he said: "The announced Turkish Dome Steel now has a lower layer, air defense infrastructure and drones at an altitude of 3,000 meters and below, built with the Tolga system."

"We have all witnessed the real example here," he said.

"These systems are the most needed systems in the world today, as the drone threat has become a major issue that is being handled by all countries," said Kele way.

He also noted that they met Turkey's needs in this field and found opportunities to achieve a significant international market share.

He indicated they would hold similar demonstrations in many countries, according to the planned schedule, to demonstrate their capabilities globally.

"Today, the fact that all the scenarios are planned to be carried out smoothly and successfully, and most of the targets have been neutralized with very few ammunition, many of which in just the first three to four shots, are great achievements and have given us great confidence," he said.

"We have completed the initial stages of mass production. We are ready to start large-scale production, both for ammunition and weapons components," he added.

It is known, the Tolga defense system can be used on both fixed and moving platforms and adjust its response based on proximity to threats. With various configurations, this system delivers effective destruction up to a distance of 3,000 meters.