DBDC INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE PUBLICATIONS & EVENTS UK LTD

As one of Türkiye’s leading defence industry companies, affiliated with the Ministry of National Defence, MKE (Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi) continues to expand both the operational capabilities and international reach of its indigenous defence solutions. During the defence exhibition Eurosatory 2026, MKE unveiled its TOLGA Short-Range Air Defence (SHORAD) System integrated onto Hungarian-made unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) known as KATICA, marking one of the first examples of a SHORAD capability deployed on a UGV platform.

The TOLGA SHORAD System has already attracted international interest, with cooperation agreements established for joint production and export activities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Through its latest partnership with Hungarian defence company HT Division Zrt., MKE is taking a further step in expanding the system’s international footprint.

The cooperation focuses on integrating the TOLGA SHORAD System onto KATICA unmanned ground vehicles and encompasses joint engineering activities, platform adaptation studies, testing and validation procedures, technical personnel training, and the evaluation of future joint production and export opportunities.

By combining TOLGA’s layered air defence architecture with the mobility and autonomy of a UGV platform, the partners aim to deliver a highly flexible and mobile air defence solution capable of operating in demanding battlefield conditions. The integrated system was officially launched on 15 June 2026 at Hall 5B, Stand C300 within the Hungarian National Pavilion at Eurosatory 2026, where it is being presented to the international defence community for the first time.

Developed according to the “Effective – Simple – Affordable” philosophy, the TOLGA Short-Range Air Defence System has been designed to counter the growing range of aerial threats encountered on modern battlefields. The system is capable of engaging drones, loitering munitions, cruise missiles and other asymmetric aerial threats through a combination of hard-kill and soft-kill capabilities integrated within a modular architecture.

TOLGA incorporates a range of weapon systems, including 12.7 mm, 20 mm and 35 mm guns, supported by MKE’s anti-drone ammunition family. The system also integrates the GÖKBÖRÜ AESA radar, electro-optical sensors and an advanced electronic warfare jammer. Thanks to its modular design, these subsystems can be deployed either as fixed installations or mounted on mobile platforms, providing scalable and layered protection tailored to operational requirements.

The system has recently been enhanced through the addition of an Acoustic Detection System, a Laser Weapon System and the ENFAL-17 missile. These new capabilities significantly strengthen TOLGA’s multi-layered defence architecture, enabling it to engage a broader spectrum of aerial threats, from low-cost commercial drones to larger and more sophisticated targets. The integration of these technologies increases both operational flexibility and survivability, positioning TOLGA as a comprehensive and adaptable SHORAD solution for modern armed forces.

The unveiling of the TOLGA-KATICA combination at Eurosatory 2026 highlights the growing trend of integrating advanced air defence systems with unmanned platforms, offering armed forces a new level of mobility, protection and operational efficiency in contested environments.