Turkey Tests ASELSAN’s GÖKBERK Laser Against FPV Drones

10 March, 2025 G?KBERK Laser System. Freeze frame from ASELSAN video Turkey's defense company ASELSAN has tested its G?KBERK mobile laser system, successfully destroying various types of drones, including FPV models.

"ASELSAN, T?rkiye's leading defense company, continues to take important steps in the field of directed energy weapons, one of the new generation technologies. Previously proven effective against rotary- and fixed-wing kamikaze drones, G?KBERK now showcased its advanced capabilities by detecting, autonomously tracking, and eliminating FPV drones across multiple test scenarios, demonstrating exceptional speed and precision in engagement," the company stated in its press release. The tests showed that the laser system could destroy small quadcopter-type drones from 1,500 meters and fixed-wing drones from 1,200 meters.

Additionally, it demonstrated the capability to melt a 6 mm steel sheet at a distance of 600 meters. Beyond drone defense, G?KBERK can disable improvised explosive devices and integrates the IHTAR electronic warfare system.

It relies on radar, an optoelectronic station with thermal imaging, and AI-based target recognition for detection.

A G?KBERK laser melts through a 6 mm steel plate during the test. Freeze frame from the ASELSAN video

Due to a powerful cooling system, the laser can reportedly operate continuously for a long time. The company states that the G?KBERK system integrates all components on a 6x6 chassis rather than using a distributed architecture, likely in contrast to another Turkish-made laser system, ALKA.

ALKA combines laser and electronic warfare, detecting UAVs at 4,000 meters and engaging them with a laser at 500 meters.

Turkey has begun mass production of the ALKA laser system for combating UAVs. Photo: Roketsan

ALKA is a system from Roketsan that provides the ability to combat individual mini-/micro-unmanned aerial vehicles using a laser and electronic warfare system. The effective range of detection and tracking of aircraft using the radar channel is up to 4000 meters.

The range of the directed electronic warfare system is 1000 meters, and the laser is used to destroy UAVs at a distance of 500 meters. G?KBERK is designed to protect military bases, airports, power plants and oil refineries.

HELIOS ship-based laser system, during testing. Photo: DOT&E

Militarnyi reported that the U.S.

Navy recently tested a similar system, the HELIOS laser, successfully destroying a drone in early February.