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Inside Türkiye's new kamikaze UAV developer Skydagger

The Skydagger's kamikaze drones are on display at the company's production facility at an undisclosed location, April 10, 2026. (IHA Photo)
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The Skydagger's kamikaze drones are on display at the company's production facility at an undisclosed location, April 10, 2026. (IHA Photo)
April 13, 2026 03:02 AM GMT+03:00

Türkiye's kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developer, Skydagger, is preparing to field its TOYCA fixed-wing kamikaze UAV system into the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) inventory.

The company also advances integration with platforms including Baykar's Bayraktar TB2, TB3, Akinci and Kizılelma, Skydagger CEO Mehmet Oztekin told Ihlas News Agency (IHA), describing a drone family designed for swarm operations, low-cost mass production and autonomous attack capability.

Turkish drone maker Skydagger's CEO, Mehmet Oztekin, speaking during an interview with Ihlas News Agency (IHA) on April 10, 2026. (IHA Photo)
Turkish drone maker Skydagger's CEO, Mehmet Oztekin, speaking during an interview with Ihlas News Agency (IHA) on April 10, 2026. (IHA Photo)

TOYCA kamikaze UAV: 70km range, 5kg warhead, 50 minutes airborne

The TOYCA RTF 05 fixed-wing kamikaze system features a 70-kilometer operational range, a 5-kilogram warhead and 50 minutes of endurance.

It is designed for rapid, effective, and cost-efficient battlefield use with swarm flight capability and autonomous attack features. Development work is also continuing on the Skydagger Dart 81 and TOYCA RTF 10 fixed-wing variants.

Oztekin said the TOYCA system is preparing to be entered into the TAF inventory.

"Our rotary-wing platforms and kamikaze drone systems have already entered inventory. Next up is our TOYCA system; our fixed-wing platforms are now preparing to enter inventory," he said.

He said the TOYCA achieves a minimum range of 80 kilometers and can enter dive-attack mode at target coordinates.

The TOYCA 10 variant can stay airborne for 10 hours and is available in both combustion engine and electric motor versions, with the combustion variant achieving ranges exceeding 750 kilometers.

Skydagger's TOYCA RTF 05 fixed-wing kamikaze system is on display at the company's production facility at an undisclosed location, April 10, 2026. (IHA Photo)
Skydagger's TOYCA RTF 05 fixed-wing kamikaze system is on display at the company's production facility at an undisclosed location, April 10, 2026. (IHA Photo)

Swarm integration with Bayraktar Kalkan, full platform family

Skydagger is conducting tests with the Bayraktar Kalkan vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) UAV, which is currently in active field use.

The systems are also being designed for air launch from Bayraktar TB2, TB3, Akinci, and Bayraktar Kizılelma platforms.

"A Kalkan UAV flying above the cloud layer can dispatch a device below the cloud layer, and it will simultaneously continue reconnaissance and surveillance while destroying the targets it identifies," Oztekin said.

"Our tests with the Bayraktar Kalkan are because it is a system currently used in the field. We can achieve very rapid integration. In the cockpit, platforms such as TB2, TB3, Akinci TİHA and Bayraktar Kizılelma will be included," he added.

Skydagger's RTF 7 kamikaze UAV during a flight test at an undisclosed location, April 10, 2026. (IHA Photo)
Skydagger's RTF 7 kamikaze UAV during a flight test at an undisclosed location, April 10, 2026. (IHA Photo)

Kamikaze drone systems range from 500g to 10kg warheads

Oztekin outlined the full product range. Current systems span 500 grams to 10 kilograms in warhead capacity across both rotary and fixed-wing platforms.

The three fixed-wing variants carry 500-gram, 5-kilogram, and 10-kilogram warheads.

"These systems are much simpler compared to systems used in more conventional warfare. They can be operated by infantry with very short training. You can put systems out of action with $2,000 drones, systems that are this easy to use. Because both sides can continuously fire approximately 1,000 drones at each other on the same day from different points," he noted.

The Skydagger's kamikaze drones are on display at the company's production facility at an undisclosed location, April 10, 2026. (IHA Photo)
The Skydagger's kamikaze drones are on display at the company's production facility at an undisclosed location, April 10, 2026. (IHA Photo)

"The fact that operators can be in headquarters, underground shelters, or isolated locations also increases this power," Oztekin said.

The company, which began operations in 2024, develops all systems, except propellers and cameras, in-house.

"Our goal is sustainable, high-volume, rapid, and affordable manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles and kamikaze systems, producing them quickly and delivering them to the user," Oztekin concluded.

April 13, 2026 03:02 AM GMT+03:00
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