IDEF 2025: KORKUT 100/25 SB System Emerges as the Solution to Drone Saturation Threats.

At the IDEF 2025 international defense exhibition in Istanbul, Turkish company Aselsan presents a new variant of its KORKUT system, specifically designed for counter-drone operations. Designated 100/25 SB and 130/25 SB, this configuration is optimized to counter the growing threat posed by mini and micro unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), increasingly used in contemporary conflict zones.
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The System is equipped with a high-precision stabilized electro-optical system that enables effective engagement of moving targets. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The system relies on 25 mm airburst ammunition, known as ATOM, engineered to detonate in proximity to small-sized, low-signature aerial targets. Its effective range exceeds 1000 meters against miniature UAVs, allowing engagements before these platforms can reach critical assets. The system's modular architecture supports flexible integration onto various vehicles or platforms and retains remote operation capability.

It is equipped with a high-precision stabilized electro-optical system that enables effective engagement of moving targets. The fire control system is fully computerized, allowing real-time trajectory computation and swift response to changes in target position. Target acquisition and tracking are automated, reducing the operator’s cognitive load and improving response time. A coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun is also included, allowing response to close-range or ground threats.

The operational relevance of such a system reflects the rapid evolution of current threats. In multiple modern theaters, tactical and modified commercial drones are used for reconnaissance, harassment, or precision strikes with explosive payloads. These lightweight, sometimes expendable vectors can saturate conventional defenses and exploit blind spots left by traditional short-range air defense systems. A system like the KORKUT 100/25 SB, capable of delivering close-range coverage using programmable airburst ammunition, serves as a critical component in protecting deployed forces, forward command posts, or logistics units.

Moreover, its modular design and remote operation enhance its adaptability to complex environments, including urban areas or temporary bases. By providing a reactive, adaptable, and cost-efficient solution against low-altitude airborne threats, the system addresses a gap between small arms and short-range missile systems, whose use against small drones may be operationally and economically unsuitable.

Aselsan continues to expand its development in electronic warfare and short-range defense capabilities. This new configuration reflects the manufacturer’s attention to the shifting dynamics of asymmetrical threats, particularly the tactical use of low-cost, hard-to-detect UAVs. The KORKUT system, already in service with the Turkish Armed Forces in its various configurations, may gain increased interest on the international market as the demand for layered drone defense grows.