Ankara, Türkiye — TÜRKPORT Defence Industry has unveiled the GÖKÇERİ Aerostat System, an indigenous lighter-than-air platform designed to deliver persistent surveillance, force protection, and integrated security capabilities. Following nearly eight years of intensive research and development, the system has begun demonstrating operational success in active deployment environments.
A Next-Generation Indigenous Aerostat Platform
Developed entirely with national engineering capabilities, GÖKÇERİ is engineered to remain airborne for extended durations while carrying a high-capacity mission payload. Operating at a fixed altitude using helium lift, the platform integrates domestically produced subsystems that distinguish it from comparable international aerostat solutions.
At the core of the system lies the proprietary He-SET® envelope technology, a fully indigenous leak-resistant structure designed to minimize helium loss rates. This innovation enhances endurance while enabling a more compact airframe without compromising mission capability.
Operational Deployment: The “Flying Outpost” Concept
The first tactical-class (15-meter) configuration successfully completed testing and validation before entering active service in the Şırnak Gabar Petroleum Region, providing aerial security support for critical energy infrastructure.
The newly developed operational-class (21-meter) variant completed its initial mission flight this year. Operating at approximately 1,750 feet, the system delivers surveillance coverage across a radius of nearly 10 kilometers. GÖKÇERİ supports a wide array of payloads, including:
- Day and night electro-optical/infrared imaging systems
- Low-altitude radar solutions
- Electronic warfare payloads
- Communications relay and mobile base-station capabilities
In addition, integrated hard-kill systems and loitering munition compatibility provide direct response capability against detected threats. Future testing with guided missile systems is expected to expand its role in border security and critical facility protection missions.
Mobile Architecture and Secure Data Infrastructure
Designed around a containerized deployment concept, GÖKÇERİ can be rapidly deployed, relocated, and redeployed based on operational requirements. A fiber-optic cable embedded within the tether enables secure real-time data transmission to the ground control station, enhancing resilience against electronic warfare threats while ensuring high-level data integrity.
The platform features fully indigenous components, including helium recovery compressors, control software, avionics modules, and sensor systems. Flexible lightweight solar panels further extend mission endurance by supporting onboard energy requirements.
Hybrid Design and Enhanced Wind Resistance
GÖKÇERİ’s aerodynamic configuration has been validated through controlled and free-flight testing phases. A reinforced airframe combined with an advanced tail-rotor stabilization system improves wind resistance and operational reliability. This positions GÖKÇERİ not merely as a surveillance aerostat but as a hybrid aerial platform capable of carrying integrated sensors, radar, electronic warfare, and weapon systems.
TÜRKPORT Defence Industry Vision
TÜRKPORT Defence Industry continues to focus on developing indigenous defence technologies aimed at increasing deterrence capability and operational autonomy. With expanding export channels across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the company seeks to deliver advanced solutions tailored to the evolving needs of modern security forces, including the Turkish Armed Forces and allied institutions.
The GÖKÇERİ Aerostat System stands as a tangible representation of this vision — a platform that showcases Türkiye’s growing competence in advanced defence technologies through high localization rates and mission-ready capabilities.