Turna Drone

The Turna drone, a product of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), emerged from a 2012 government‑funded program aimed at strengthening indigenous unmanned‑aircraft capabilities. Its first flight took place in early 2014 and the platform entered serial production by 2016, quickly becoming a standard training and reconnaissance tool for the Turkish Armed Forces. Turna’s key features include a lightweight composite airframe, modular payload bays, and a fully autonomous flight‑control system that supports GPS‑aided waypoint navigation as well as beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight operation. With a maximum endurance of 12 hours, a service ceiling of 25 000 feet and a payload capacity of up to 30 kg, the drone can carry electro‑optical/infrared cameras, SIGINT suites, or small electronic‑warfare modules. Its launch system employs a catapult or pneumatic launcher, eliminating the need for a runway, while recovery is achieved by parachute or net capture. Turna’s significance lies in providing Turkey with a domestically produced, cost‑effective platform that bridges the gap between basic trainer UAVs and larger combat‑grade systems, fostering local expertise, encouraging export opportunities and reinforcing the nation’s strategic autonomy in the rapidly expanding UAV market. Since its introduction, Turna has undertaken more than 5,000 flight hours in domestic and allied training exercises, demonstrating reliability and paving the way for next‑generation UAV projects.