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Turkey Is Building a New Naval Drone—to Kill Other Naval Drones

7 7
17.08.2025

In an era where asymmetric warfare tactics dominate naval conflict, Turkey has emerged as a key innovator in unmanned systems. The Arida-M Counter-Kamikaze Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) System represents a cutting-edge response to the growing threat of kamikaze drones and explosive-laden boats. Developed by Turkish defense firm Anadolu Robotik in collaboration with Sekizaltmiş Teknoloji, this system is designed to safeguard naval assets, ports, and coastal facilities from low-cost, high-impact attacks.

As seen in ongoing conflicts, like the Russia-Ukraine War and Houthi operations in the Red Sea, kamikaze USVs pose significant risks to traditional warships, making countermeasures like Arida-M essential for modern maritime security.

Kamikaze USVs are fast becoming a real nightmare for modern navies. They are often small, fast, and laden with explosives. Kamikaze USVs are cheap and can achieve high-value destruction of enemy forces at sea. These vessels, remotely controlled or autonomous, can evade detection and overwhelm defenses, as demonstrated in Black Sea engagements where Ukrainian drones sank Russian ships.

In response, nations are aggressively pursuing counter-drone systems. That’s where Turkey’s

© The National Interest