At the IDEF 2025 exhibition held in Istanbul, ASELSAN publicly introduced its next-generation autonomous air defense system, GÜRZ, for the first time. Representing a significant step in Türkiye’s transition toward autonomous defense technologies, GÜRZ is specifically developed to counter low-altitude threats. In response to the growing dangers posed by drone attacks, cruise missiles, and helicopters, the system offers a fast, mobile, and intelligent solution tailored to the shifting dynamics of modern warfare.
GÜRZ stands out as a mobile platform designed for Very Short-Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) missions. It is equipped with a hybrid weapon architecture combining both missile and gun systems. One of its most notable features is its AI-supported autonomous operation capability. This allows GÜRZ to function entirely unmanned or under remote control. Fully compatible with Türkiye’s HERİKKS and HAKİM command-and-control systems, it integrates seamlessly into the national air defense network.
Highly effective against rotary-wing aircraft, loitering munitions, micro-UAVs, and low-flying cruise missiles, GÜRZ can be deployed to protect both stationary facilities and mobile units. The fact that it does not require permanent emplacements highlights its superior mobility and rapid deployment capabilities.
Developed over several years, GÜRZ is a result of ASELSAN’s accumulated experience from previous air defense programs such as KORKUT and GÖKDENİZ. However, it goes beyond these predecessors by incorporating fully unmanned operation, AI-based threat detection, and autonomous targeting. The recent operational challenges faced by traditional air defense systems in countering UAV threats have accelerated ASELSAN’s focus on this project.
Unlike conventional VSHORAD systems, GÜRZ is not dependent solely on human operators; its AI support enables rapid response and decision-making, even in contested electronic warfare environments. While comparable to systems like Germany’s Skyranger 30 or the U.S. Avenger, GÜRZ’s native integration with Türkiye’s defense command infrastructure gives it a unique edge. Additionally, its compliance with NATO standards enhances its export potential to allied and partner nations.
From a strategic standpoint, GÜRZ reflects Türkiye’s commitment to achieving technological independence in defense. Designed with the flexibility to meet the needs of Turkish Armed Forces operating in diverse theaters such as Syria, Iraq, and the Eastern Mediterranean, the system enhances deterrence against both state and non-state actors employing drone swarms and low-altitude munitions. Within NATO, GÜRZ also contributes to collective defense and aligns with the alliance’s future modernization goals.
The unveiling of GÜRZ is a clear signal of Türkiye’s ambition not only to utilize next-generation defense technologies but also to shape them. With its mobility, multi-weapon capabilities, AI-powered processing, and integration into the national defense network, GÜRZ stands as a robust solution to today’s and tomorrow’s evolving aerial threats.
