Turkey develops its FPV drones: new MERKÜT presented

4 February, 2025 Turkish MERK?T FPV drone. Photo: Anadolu Turkey has presented a new MERK?T FPV drone, developed and manufactured by SAVX Technology.

Anadolu Agency reported on this. It is stated that following a demonstration at the SAHA EXPO 2024 exhibition in October 2024, it is ready for its intended use. The work on the MERK?T drone took about eight months.

During this time, the company left behind stages such as design, design verification, testing, and ammunition integration.

The operator of the Turkish FPV drone MERK?T during control Photo: Anadolu

Abdullah Aktash, founder of SAVX Technology, shared that FPV drones are one of the most urgent needs on the battlefield. "The flight time is 20 minutes. The flight range reaches eight kilometers.

It is equipped with a system of guided fragmentation munitions," Aktash noted. The warhead contains about 950 ready-made warheads, which are designed to effectively engage enemy manpower. The ammunition itself is innovative, with an adjusted radius of destruction.

"We have integrated a proximity sensor that automates the moment of explosion, which we call the last phase of the mission. Thanks to this, the operator can select the distance of the explosion from 20 centimeters to 5 meters. The operator is focused only on hitting the target," Aktash stated.

This function is related to the safety of the drone operator when in the event of a possible malfunction of the munition, he could be injured or killed.

Turkish MERK?T FPV drone. Photo: Anadolu

It also allows the MERK?T drone's munitions to be fired automatically at a distance from the target. This feature makes the work of operators easier and increases the effectiveness of the munitions.

This, in turn, increases the ammunition effectiveness.

The company is developing new warhead versions and is currently working on armor-piercing ammunition.

The company is also working on using fiber optics so that EW does not affect it.