The ŞİMŞEK High-Speed Target Drone System, developed within the Turkish defense industry, has successfully completed trials showcasing its newly integrated capabilities.
In a statement shared on his NSosyal account, President of the Defense Industry Agency (SSB) Haluk Görgün announced that the ŞİMŞEK-K variant, produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), achieved a significant milestone during its latest test.
For the first time, ŞİMŞEK took off from the ground using a rocket-assisted take-off (RATO) system, enabling it to operate not only as a high-speed target drone but also in kamikaze missions.
“Our defense industry has added another critical capability,” Görgün said. “This achievement is a concrete demonstration of technologies developed entirely with national resources—enhancing operational flexibility, strengthening deterrence, and reflecting our determination to create innovative solutions for the defense needs of the future.”
He expressed gratitude to the TUSAŞ engineering team and the wider defense ecosystem for their contributions to the successful test.
