MKE will add an HPeM weapon as a new effector to the TOLGA C-UAS system that currently incorporates guns and jammers, to counter fibre-optic UAVs effectively.
During the EFES 2026 exercise, TurDef learned that MKE will add an HPeM weapon as a supporting effector to its TOLGA C-UAS system, which consists of a vast array of effectors intended for different ranges.
MKE previously displayed the ENFAL-17 C-UAS missile that can be launched from pickups and a laser weapon as the new effectors for the TOLGA layered C-UAS system during SAHA EXPO 2026.
Compared to firearms performing kinetic kill and jammers performing soft kill, an HPeM weapon performs a functional kill by short-circuiting the electronics by putting the target under the influence of an electromagnetic pulse. Cost per engagement is significantly less than that of a gun-based system. At the same time, the method of kill is impervious to any kind of autonomous control or fibre-optic connection that has become a problem for jammers. On the other hand, compared to lasers, HPeM weapons are less demanding when it comes to putting the target in the kill zone.
Türkiye's Works on HPeM-based C-UAS
Türkiye started its path towards HPeM-based C-UAS capability with a demonstration of ASELSAN EJDERHA C-IED system featuring an onboard HPeM weapon against a UAV target. Later on, ASELSAN developed a purpose-built solution as EJDERHA/AD 200 with a turreted and larger antenna. The improved variant of EJDERHA/AD 200, EJDERHA/AD 210, was also displayed at SAHA EXPO 2026.
Alongside ASELSAN and MKE, other firms -especially the ones specialising in high-power pulsed electromagnetics- are likely to enter this field, considering the undeniable advantages compared to even laser weapons.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
