The TALAY drone could prove invaluable to countries threatened by larger and more powerful rival navies, such as Taiwan.
Turkey is on track to be a truly dominant regional power in the Middle East within the decade. They are already a shipbuilding and drone building behemoth—as has been demonstrated with the incredible design of the TALAY unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The TALAY is the world’s first sea-skimming multipurpose drone. Developed by the Ankara-based Solid Aero, in collaboration with Yonca Shipyard, this cutting-edge technology leverages the wing-in-ground (WIG) effect—a physics principle whereby the ground provides stability in very low-level flight—to fly stealthily just above the ocean surface, evading radar detection and potentially redefining naval operations.
Why Turkey Built the TALAY
TALAY’s origins trace back to Turkey’s push for indigenous defense technologies. First unveiled at the SAHA Expo in 2024, a production-ready model was showcased at the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul. Solid Aero, specializing in advanced aerospace solutions, designed TALAY to address modern naval challenges, such as asymmetric warfare and coastal defense.
Drawing inspiration from ground-effect vehicles like the Soviet-era Ekranoplan, which glide over water for enhanced lift and efficiency, TALAY adapts this principle into a compact, unmanned drone format. Unlike the manned predecessors, TALAY is fully autonomous, powered by electric propulsion and AI-assisted controls, ensuring precision even in turbulent sea conditions up to sea state three (waves of around one meter in height).
Production is slated to begin in October 2026, with initial deliveries to the Turkish Navy expected in early 2027. This timeline underscores Turkey’s commitment to bolstering its drone arsenal, already renowned for systems like the Bayraktar TB2—positioning TALAY as a strategic asset in regional geopolitics.
Why the TALAY Is So Dangerous to Turkey’s Enemies
At the heart of TALAY’s prowess are its impressive specifications. It can achieve a top speed of 124 miles per hour, with an operational range of 124 miles and endurance of up to three hours on a single charge from its lithium polymer battery. TALAY’s defining feature is its ultra-low flight altitude, cruising just a few feet above the sea surface, with the ability to skim as low as one foot off the water for maximum stealth.
This low-altitude operation makes the greatest use of the ground effect, reducing drag and fuel consumption while minimizing radar visibility. The drone can carry a payload of 66 points, accommodating sensors for reconnaissance or munitions for strikes, including small anti-ship missiles. With foldable wings, the TALAY UAV can perform extremely agile maneuvers, and it launches directly from water without modifications, enhancing operational flexibility.
What sets TALAY apart as the world’s first sea-skimming multipurpose drone is its integration of advanced technologies. Artificial intelligence-powered flight control software ensures adaptive navigation, allowing autonomous or remote operation with pinpoint accuracy. The electric engine provides a low acoustic and thermal signature, further bolstering stealth. When confronted by enemy air defenses, this becomes a key feature.
The TALAY is a true multirole drone. Its mission set includes marine reconnaissance, patrol duties, cargo transport, harbor attacks, top-down strikes on vessels, and even kamikaze operations in swarms. By flying under radar horizons, it can overwhelm short-range air defenses, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional missiles. Compared to anti-ship systems like the Sea Venom, TALAY’s swarm potential poses threats to larger warships, marking a shift toward affordable, high-impact asymmetric warfare.
Specifically in the maritime domain, the TALAY excels in coastal and open-sea scenarios. For navies like Turkey’s, TALAY enhances surveillance and strike capabilities in contested waters—such as in the Aegean, Mediterranean, or Black Seas, all areas where Turkey is striving to exert greater influence. Its ability to evade detection makes it ideal for infiltrating harbors or targeting enemy ships from above, potentially disrupting supply lines or amphibious operations.
The TALAY Drone Has Civilian Uses, Too
Beyond military use, TALAY’s multipurpose nature opens doors to civilian applications, including search-and-rescue, environmental monitoring, or offshore logistics. Its primary role in defense highlights Turkey’s growing influence in global arms markets, where sea-skimming drones could tip balances in naval conflicts.
The TALAY drone could prove invaluable to countries threatened by larger and more powerful rival navies, such as Taiwan—which must enhance its island-wide defenses and increase its challenge to China’s navy, which will be used at the start of any potential invasion of Taiwan. Imagine swarms of TALAY drones being launched from their redoubts in Taiwan and striking hard and fast against the armada that China will undoubtedly muster against the embattled island democracy. TALAY could fundamentally flip the tables on any Chinese invasion.
The TALAY sea-skimming drone represents the pinnacle of Turkish military engineering. It blends stealth, versatility, and affordability into the world’s first sea-skimming multipurpose drone.
As geopolitical tensions rise, this technology not only strengthens Turkey’s defenses but also reshapes the future of maritime warfare, proving that innovation in Turkey today is boundless—and the country is well-prepared to offer a real challenge to its rivals.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics, and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, The Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image courtesy of SolidAero.
