ANKARA, Türkiye — The Turkish-Somali Naval Task Group has conducted the first flight tests of the KALKAN Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle under ocean conditions in the Indian Ocean, Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence announced.
The KALKAN UAV, deployed aboard the Turkish Navy’s TCG Gelibolu frigate, underwent the trials as part of the Somalia Naval Task Group, the ministry said in a statement published on Saturday.
The ministry also shared photographs of the flight tests but did not disclose further technical details about the trials or their results.
Developed by Turkish defence company Baykar, the Bayraktar KALKAN is designed for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions. Its vertical takeoff and landing capability allows it to operate without a conventional runway, making it suitable for deployment from platforms with limited space, including naval vessels.
According to the manufacturer, the UAV can conduct autonomous takeoff, flight and landing operations and is designed to support a range of operational requirements.
The latest trials mark a further step in testing the aircraft in maritime environments, extending its evaluation to ocean conditions from a frigate operating with Türkiye’s naval task group off Somalia.
Türkiye and Somalia have strengthened their defence and security cooperation in recent years. A defence and economic cooperation framework agreement signed in February 2024 provides for Turkish support in developing and strengthening Somalia’s naval and maritime security capabilities.
The Turkish naval presence off Somalia also supports maritime security activities in the region, where protecting territorial waters and safeguarding maritime interests remain important priorities.
The ministry’s announcement did not specify whether the KALKAN UAV would be deployed operationally following the trials or whether further tests are planned.
