Defence technologies are moving ever faster from concepts and prototypes to practical demonstrations. This was one of the defining features of SAHA 2026 in Istanbul.
Alongside conventional weapons and aviation systems, this year’s exhibition created significantly more space for innovations that could be seen in action: FPV drones underwent dedicated trials, unmanned ground vehicles demonstrated their capabilities on specially prepared tracks, while new counter-drone systems employed lasers, electromagnetic energy and autonomous interception technologies.
For AKM Group-CZ, participation in SAHA 2026 provided an opportunity to assess leading developments firsthand, meet representatives of the на from international defence industry and expand its professional network.
From Land Systems to Space Technologies
SAHA 2026 took place from 5 to 9 May at the Istanbul Expo Center and ranked among the major international defence and aerospace exhibitions of the year, bringing together more than 1,700 companies from over 120 countries.
The exhibition covered land, naval, aviation and space systems, communications and command-and-control technologies, sensors, weapons and ammunition. Particular emphasis was placed on technologies reshaping modern warfare and defence capabilities — including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, robotics, unmanned platforms and new solutions for countering aerial threats.
This is what set SAHA apart from a conventional weapons exhibition. The focus was not only on what was being produced, but also on how these systems operate, move, interact and perform under testing conditions.
When a Drone Takes to the Test Track
One of the most interesting features of SAHA 2026 was its dedicated demonstration zones. This year, the exhibition hosted the FPV Drone Challenge, UGV Challenge and Rover Challenge for the first time.
FPV drones demonstrated speed and maneuverability, unmanned ground vehicles tackled demanding sections of specially designed tracks, while robotic rovers demonstrated their ability to operate in conditions resembling real-world missions.
Assessing how ready a technology is to perform beyond the presentation stage was one of the key areas of focus for AKM Group-CZ specialists during the exhibition.
Another highlight was more than 300 global debuts — new products and technological solutions presented to an international audience for the first time.
Air Defence Is Changing: Drones, Lasers and Electromagnetic Energy
Among the most telling premieres at the exhibition were new solutions for countering unmanned systems.
These included GÖKALP, an autonomous kinetic interceptor designed to destroy FPV and other attack drones through physical interception. It was presented alongside MİĞFER, a close-range self-defence system designed to protect armoured platforms against small FPV drones.
Directed-energy systems were equally noteworthy.
For example, GÖKBERK 10 kW uses a laser to engage nearby aerial targets, while the EJDERHA 210 system employs high-power electromagnetic radiation to counter small unmanned systems, including swarm-type threats.
The trend is clear: rather than relying on a single universal means of engagement, the market is developing a broad spectrum of technologies — from electronic warfare and kinetic interception to laser and high-power electromagnetic systems.
From Unmanned Systems to New Artillery and Ground Platforms
Among the notable premieres in the land systems segment were the MKE Attila 155 mm and Uran 105 mm self-propelled artillery systems, both presented at the exhibition for the first time.
Attila is based on a 6×6 chassis, while Uran uses a lighter 4×4 configuration, demonstrating two different approaches to mobile artillery.
Having such systems presented on the same platform — from compact FPV drones to heavy artillery — offered a clear illustration of the breadth of today’s defence market.
Manufacturers are simultaneously working to reduce the cost and size of individual systems while increasing the mobility and autonomy of larger platforms. This combination of trends is particularly relevant to future industrial cooperation and supply channels.
AKM Group-CZ at SAHA 2026: Contacts, Discussions and New Opportunities
For AKM Group-CZ, SAHA 2026 was an important platform for direct professional engagement with international manufacturers and partners.
We not only assessed a broad range of new technologies and solutions, but also held working meetings, spoke with representatives of defence companies, maintained established professional relationships and developed new contacts.
Direct discussions with manufacturers are particularly valuable in this environment. They make it possible to go beyond finished products and address supply opportunities, new equipment categories, potential areas of cooperation and the further development of business relationships.
SAHA 2026 demonstrated one key point: the ability to turn development into a production-ready product at an increasingly rapid pace.
Turkey’s growing manufacturing capabilities and its position as one of the dynamic centres of defence technology development create significant opportunities for international industrial cooperation.
For AKM Group-CZ, the value of participating in SAHA lies above all in the exhibition’s ability to combine market analysis with direct professional engagement.
Today, it is not enough simply to know what has appeared on the market. What matters is understanding which technologies are already operational, which are ready to be scaled up, and which are likely to define the next stage of defence technology development.
