Türkiye Joins Laser Air Defense Race with YGLS System to Counter Drone Swarms.

Türkiye is advancing its directed-energy capabilities with the YGLS high-power laser system developed under TÜBİTAK oversight, targeting short-range defense against small drones and similar threats. The system matters because it offers a rapid, low-cost-per-shot response to saturating UAV attacks, strengthening point defense, and easing the burden on conventional air defense munitions.

YGLS is designed to deliver precise, electrically powered engagements with minimal delay, making it suited for protecting bases, critical infrastructure, and maneuver units from low-altitude threats. Its development reflects a broader NATO trend toward integrating deployable laser systems into layered air defense, improving resilience against high-volume, low-cost aerial threats.

Related Topic: Roketsan's ALKA Laser Weapon System Tackles Growing Threat of Drone Swarm

Presented at SAHA 2026 in Istanbul, the YGLS relies on a fiber-laser architecture operating around a wavelength of 1,070 nanometers, a standard for high-energy applications due to its efficiency and relatively stable atmospheric propagation. The baseline configuration delivers 20 kW of output power through the combination of four 5 kW modules. However, the system is designed to scale up to 80 kW, which alters its operational positioning. This growth potential not only provides modular redundancy but also enables future engagement against more resistant targets. Power output can be adjusted between 10 and 100 percent, allowing operators to manage energy use according to target characteristics and thermal constraints.

Beam quality remains a decisive factor in overall performance. With an M2 value below 2.0, the YGLS maintains a focused beam over distance, which directly affects effective range and required dwell time on target. Power stability, specified at ±3 percent, ensures consistent energy delivery during sustained engagements. A switching time of 600 microseconds and a modulation rate of 400 Hz allow rapid adjustment of output, which is necessary when tracking maneuvering targets or switching between multiple threats.

Energy demand and thermal management illustrate the inherent limitations of such systems. The YGLS requires approximately 160 kW of electrical power at 380 volts, restricting its integration to vehicles equipped with sufficient onboard generation or to fixed installations. Cooling is handled through a water-based system distributed across four dedicated units, each paired with a laser module. This configuration reflects the need to continuously dissipate heat generated during both continuous wave (CW) and quasi-continuous wave (QCW) operation modes. Operational conditions ranging from +10 to +40 degrees Celsius indicate sensitivity to environmental extremes, particularly in high-humidity or particle-dense environments where performance may degrade.

From a mechanical perspective, the system is built around a large stabilized gimbal measuring roughly two meters on each side and nearly three meters in height. This structure supports precise beam steering and stabilization, which are essential for maintaining energy on a moving target. The laser output is transmitted through a QBH connector with fiber lengths reaching up to 15 meters, offering flexibility in system layout. Control is achieved through an Ethernet interface, facilitating integration into digital command networks and fire-control loops combining radar and electro-optical sensors.

When compared with equivalent systems developed in the United States and within NATO, the YGLS occupies an intermediate position. The US Army’s Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense system uses a laser in the 50 kW class mounted on a Stryker vehicle to engage Group 1 to 3 unmanned aerial systems at tactically relevant distances. The US Navy’s High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance system operates at higher power levels and integrates both engagement and optical disruption functions. European programs, including German naval demonstrators, follow similar trajectories with an emphasis on beam control and tracking precision. At the national level, Türkiye has also developed Roketsan’s ALKA directed-energy system, which combines a lower-power laser with electronic warfare functions to counter drone swarms at very short range. In this context, the current 20 kW configuration of the YGLS corresponds to a higher-energy, purely laser-based approach, while its scalability to 80 kW indicates a potential evolution toward extended engagement envelopes and increased target sets.

At the tactical level, a 20 kW laser enables engagement of small unmanned aerial systems by heating structural elements, degrading onboard sensors, or inducing aerodynamic failure after a few seconds of dwell time, depending on range and atmospheric conditions. Scaling toward 80 kW would expand the target set to include more robust drones and potentially certain short-range threats under favorable conditions. Continuous wave operation supports sustained engagements, while quasi-continuous modes allow energy distribution across multiple targets. Nevertheless, performance remains dependent on environmental factors such as turbulence, humidity, and aerosols, all of which can reduce effective range and beam concentration.

The emergence of the YGLS reflects a broader shift in air defense concepts where directed-energy systems complement kinetic interceptors. As these technologies become more widespread, their low cost per shot offers a practical response to saturation attacks involving large numbers of low-cost drones. For Türkiye, the development of such capabilities supports industrial autonomy and creates export opportunities. At the same time, the increasing availability of high-energy laser systems may lower the threshold for engagement in contested airspace, while complicating escalation dynamics and the management of low-intensity confrontations.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.