Drone Shield in the press: the Turaç-led Turkish counter-drone system makes its debut at MÜSİAD EXPO
Drone Shield (Dron Kalkanı), developed under the leadership of Turaç in cooperation with Derya Arms, Lasersan, Urban Savunma and the Istanbul Technical University Aeronautics and Space Technologies Application and Research Center (ITU ARC), was announced to the public with a report published by Anadolu Agency on 21 September 2026. The story was picked up the same day by national newspapers, television channels, business and defence industry outlets and international defence media.
The system was exhibited for the first time at the Turaç stand at the 21st MÜSİAD EXPO, held at the Istanbul Expo Center on 23–26 September 2026. For a detailed presentation of the system, which the press also refers to as "Drone Kalkanı", please visit dronkalkani.com.tr .
The system fired in the field for the first time on 17 October 2026 at the Boran-8 International Sniper Competition, held by the Gendarmerie General Command in Foça, İzmir with participants from 19 friendly and allied countries: mounted on a vehicle, Dron Kalkanı autonomously detected and hit a representative target flown on a drone. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Turaç General Manager Fatih Altunbaş said the system reacts faster than the previous version, that the product is still a prototype, that tests will be held in November and that serial production is targeted for year end; talks with foreign delegations, including those from Belgium and Hungary, are intended to turn into contracts and exports.
Key points reported by the press
- Drone Shield is an autonomous close-range air defence system that physically destroys mini and micro UAVs as well as FPV and kamikaze drones.
- Two 12-gauge semi-automatic Derya MAX shotguns made by Derya Arms operate simultaneously on a pan-tilt robotic turret. The system fires Turaç's Sterling-branded 12-gauge magnum anti-drone ammunition.
- Lasersan's electro-optical sensor package and acoustic sensors detect and track the target from 600–800 metres. At 150 metres, the simultaneous fire of both barrels creates a metal cloud roughly 2 metres in diameter in the target's flight path.
- Detection is fully passive: the system operates without any electromagnetic emission and is also effective against fibre-optic-controlled drones that cannot be jammed.
- Artificial intelligence algorithms developed by ITU ARC classify the target and compute the firing solution on the turret itself, with no operator required. Against a high-speed FPV drone there is a window of roughly 6 seconds from detection to destruction.
- Thanks to its light and compact design it can be integrated on land and naval vehicles, fixed facilities and unmanned ground vehicles. Its low power consumption means no additional generator is needed.
- Turaç's distribution network reaching more than 90 countries and its NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) supplier status provide a ready basis for exporting the system. The system is planned to be operational and ready for serial production by the end of the year.
Our General Manager Fatih Altunbaş told Anadolu Agency that the drone threat has been on the company's agenda since 2018 and that Turaç developed its first anti-drone ammunition in line with the needs of the security forces. He said: "The system does not depend on a person or a remote control. It scans the entire sky and detects threats. It has become clear that these drones have to be shot down and destroyed."
Press clippings
Below are images of the pages where the reports were published. Click a clipping to open the original source.
Press archive
The table below lists the news reports published about Drone Shield in date order. Each row links to the original source; the headlines are the outlets' own headlines, given here in English.
This archive will be updated as new reports are published. For technical information, platform options and contact details about Drone Shield, please visit dronkalkani.com.tr .