TÜBİTAK BİLGEM has shown its new pod for UAV/UCAVs as R-POD to allow platforms without onboard radars to detect and engage other air targets at SAHA EXPO 2026.
TÜBİTAK BİLGEM’s new R-POD in its UAV pod family, unveiled at SAHA EXPO 2026, will provide a compact and easily integrated air-to-air sensor to smaller UAVs that can not carry onboard radars.
Like the other pods, R-POD is compact enough to be mounted on Bayraktar TB2 or similar-sized platforms.
TÜBİTAK previously worked on self-protection pod types for UAVs, such as SPPOD-L/M IR countermeasures pods, ETPOD electronic attack pod, EDPOD-K electronic support pod, and EHPOD-S DFRM jamming pod.
R-POD will allow the multi-tracking of air targets with no effect from visual clutter at longer ranges compared to the EO/IR systems. This can be specifically useful in utilising UAVs for defence against opportunity targets or long-range kamikaze UAV volleys. Türkiye is known to be interested in this kind of use as a sort of persistent air patrol, with examples such as SUNGUR integration plans for Baykar’s various UAVs or full-sized air-to-air missile integration plans for AKINCI UCAV.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
