Boğaiçi Savunma Teknolojileri Develops Civil Counter-UAV Solution to Address Growing Drone Threat

As Boğaziçi Savunma we have adapted its proven military Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Counter-UAV) capabilities to the civil security domain, introducing a dedicated solution designed to protect critical infrastructure—particularly airports—from the rapidly growing threat posed by unauthorized drones.

The increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for intelligence gathering, sabotage, and disruption in recent conflicts has highlighted their impact not only on military operations but also on civilian infrastructure. Incidents involving drone sightings at Denmark's Aalborg Airport and other European airports, along with a broader rise in unauthorized UAV activity across Europe, have intensified demand for effective counter-drone technologies.

As Denmark prepares to host the European Union and European Political Community summits on 1–2 October, several allied nations—including France, Germany, and Sweden—have deployed military personnel, radar assets, and Counter-UAV systems to reinforce Danish airspace security in response to increased drone activity.

Against this backdrop, Boğaziçi Savunma, a Turkish defense technology company, has expanded its operationally proven İLTER Counter-UAV product family beyond military applications to meet the requirements of civil aviation and critical infrastructure protection.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Chairman Fatih Aslan described the global drone threat as "a persistent and growing security challenge."

While Counter-UAV systems have traditionally been associated with military operations, Aslan emphasized that the threat environment has increasingly shifted toward civilian sectors.

"Airport security has become a major area of concern. Military installations face one type of threat, whereas civil aviation encounters entirely different operational risks. Recreational drone flights, commercial aerial photography, news gathering, and even wedding videography can create significant security concerns. Once an unauthorized drone is detected near an airport, flight operations often have to be suspended. This results not only in substantial financial losses for airlines but also in serious disruptions for passengers."

International Interest in Civil Aviation Protection

Son kullanıcıların geri bildirimleri de bizim için önemli. Buradan gelen sonuçlar da bizi memnun ediyor. Daha da ötesinde tuttuğumuz arıza kayıtları var. Dörtlü hanelere ulaşmış sayıdaki sistemlerimiz 7/24 aktif şekilde çalışıyor ve arıza oranımız yüzde 1'in altında şu anda. Sahadan tamir ya da bakım için gelen cihazlarımız oluyor 4 bin gün hiç kapanmadan çalışan cihazları görüyoruz. Çok mutlu oluyoruz. Hiç arızaya düşmemiş, kesintiye uğramamış ve görevini yapmış. Askeri standartlarda ürün üretince bunları gözetmemiz gerekiyor. Sivil tarafta çalışma tamamladık. Artık ihracat odaklı çalışıyoruz. Kendi ülkemizin ihtiyaçları elbette ön planda. Savunma sanayisine devletimizin ve Sayın Cumhurbaşkanımızın vermiş olduğu önem ortada. Biz de Cumhurbaşkanımızın ortaya koymuş olduğu vizyon doğrultusunda ülkemiz için de en iyilerini devam edeceğiz."

Continuous Capability Development

Aslan noted that Counter-UAV technology remains in a constant cycle of adaptation as UAV capabilities continue to evolve.

"This is essentially a continuous cat-and-mouse competition. Drone technologies advance constantly, and we respond by developing new countermeasures. Our greatest advantage is our ability to react rapidly. None of our R&D programs has exceeded six months. Today, we produce highly capable systems that have demonstrated significant operational success in the field."

He added that operational feedback from end users plays a critical role in system improvement.

The company currently has several thousand systems operating continuously around the clock, maintaining a field failure rate below one percent. Some deployed units have reportedly operated for more than 4,000 consecutive days without shutdown while maintaining uninterrupted mission readiness.

According to Aslan, these reliability levels are achieved by adhering to military-grade manufacturing standards.

With domestic civil development largely complete, the company is now placing greater emphasis on export opportunities while continuing to prioritize Türkiye's national defense requirements.

Tailored Solutions for Civil Applications

Although the underlying technologies remain largely identical between military and civil configurations, Aslan explained that civil applications require customized engineering to ensure compatibility with existing communications infrastructure.

The company's military portfolio includes systems capable of:

Electronic attack (jamming) ranges of up to 150 km
Radar surveillance coverage of up to 40 km
Electro-optical detection ranges of up to 10 km

These capabilities were specifically developed for military operations and have been operationally validated.

However, airport environments require significantly different operational parameters.

Rather than maximizing engagement range, civil systems employ lower transmission power levels designed to neutralize unauthorized drones without disrupting airport communications, navigation systems, or other critical electronic infrastructure.

"Our objective is not to establish a 150-kilometer protective zone around an airport. Instead, we are developing systems capable of mitigating unauthorized drones while ensuring uninterrupted operation of surrounding civilian systems."

According to Aslan, the civil airport configuration is currently undergoing operational evaluation at a pilot site, where it has been tested for approximately three months.

Initial results reportedly demonstrate successful detection and prevention of unauthorized drone operations.

Expanding Product Portfolio

Boğaziçi Savunma currently offers more than ten specialized Counter-UAV configurations, each optimized for distinct operational environments ranging from dense urban areas to border security operations.

System variants provide effective coverage from 2 km to 150 km, allowing scalable protection according to mission requirements.

Beyond airports, the company is also developing dedicated Counter-UAV solutions for the maritime sector.

Aslan revealed that a major European yacht manufacturer has initiated discussions regarding factory-installed Counter-UAV systems for luxury vessels, potentially opening a new export market for Turkish defense technology.

The company's expanding portfolio now supports protection of:

• Military installations
• Airports and civil aviation infrastructure
• Urban security environments
• Border operations
• Unmanned surface vessels (USVs)
• Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
• Maritime platforms, including commercial and luxury vessels

Boğaziçi Savunma states that it remains focused on delivering mission-specific Counter-UAV capabilities for both domestic and international customers while expanding Türkiye's defense technology exports.

News link: https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/bilim-teknoloji/askerlerin-basini-agritan-dronlara-sivil-alanlara-ozgu-cozum-gelistirildi/3702969