Turkey unveils world's first sea-skimming combat drone, a stealthy, production-ready WIG craft unlike anything US, Russia or China has

Time of India

2 days ago

In the 1960s, the Soviet Union stunned Western intelligence with the Caspian Sea Monster, a massive, winged ship that skimmed just above the water's surface, hidden from radar. Now, Turkey has revived and modernized that concept with TALAY, the world's first sea-skimming multipurpose
unmanned aerial vehicle
.
Ankara-based defense innovator Solid Aero's webpage states that this cutting-edge craft is production-ready and the first of its kind. It blends the stealth of a low-flying drone with the aerodynamic efficiency of a Wing-in-Ground (WIG) effect vehicle, creating a new category of maritime strike and reconnaissance platforms.
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Unlike traditional UAVs that operate high above the surface, TALAY can skim the sea from 30 cm to 100 m, staying beneath typical radar horizons.
This low profile enables it to infiltrate contested zones without detection, making it ideal for harbor attacks, reconnaissance, and rapid-response maritime operations.
As per the manufacturer its foldable wings allow for quick deployment, and its low radar cross-section paired with a lightweight stealth-focused design keeps it virtually invisible until it's too late for an adversary to react.
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Power, payload, and precision
Despite its compact 9.84-foot wingspan and 9.19-foot length, TALAY can carry up to 66 pounds (30 kg) of payload, whether advanced sensors or munitions comparable to smaller conventional anti-ship missiles.
Powered by an electric engine and Li-Po battery, TALAY reaches 200 km/h (124 mph) and operates for up to three hours with a 200 km (124-mile) range.
Its operational versatility covers: Normal Attack, Top Attack, Harbor Attack, Patrol and Reconnaissance Missions, Cargo Transport.
Advanced AI-assisted flight control ensures both autonomous and operator-guided missions remain accurate and adaptable, even in sea state three conditions.
The 'Caspian Sea Monster' connection
While TALAY is groundbreaking for drones, it isn't the first craft to harness the
Wing-in-Ground effect
. The Cold War's Soviet Union's massive KM
ekranoplan
, nicknamed the Caspian Sea Monster, dominated military headlines in the Cold War era.
That behemoth, however, was a crewed vehicle weighing hundreds of tons and designed for troop and missile transport.
By contrast, TALAY miniaturizes the concept into a nimble, stealth-oriented UAV, offering precision strikes and reconnaissance without risking crew lives, a leap in both survivability and cost efficiency.
Small size
Although its payload is modest compared to large naval missiles, the potential for swarm tactics makes TALAY a serious maritime threat. Multiple drones could overwhelm a warship's defenses, targeting corvettes, inshore patrol craft, or even larger vessels.
With production-ready models already showcased at the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) in Istanbul, TALAY signals a new era in low-altitude maritime warfare.
According to the Greek Reporter, serial production of TALAY will begin in October 2026, with the first production units to be delivered to the Turkish Navy in early 2027.
Other powers
The United States is developing the Liberty Lifter for rapid resupply in the Pacific theater, while China has floated speculative concepts for low-altitude maritime drones.
Russia has hinted at modern patrol and missile-launch adaptations, but no production-ready model exists. Iran has teased smaller coastal-defense WIG craft.
In Europe, Germany and the UK have researched WIG transport concepts, mostly for civilian or search-and-rescue roles, while Australia has trialed small-scale prototypes for island-hopping logistics.
In a geopolitical moment where contested coastlines define the future of warfare, these platforms are gaining renewed relevance. But what sets Turkey's TALAY apart from its American, Russian, Chinese, European, Australian, and Iranian counterparts is simple: it's ready.
Specs at a Glance:
Maximum Speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
Operational Ceiling: 30 cm – 100 m above sea level
Payload Capacity: 30 kg (66 lbs)
Maximum Take-Off Weight: 60 kg (132 lbs)
Endurance: 3 hours
Range: 200 km (124 miles)
Propulsion: Electric engine + Li-Po battery
Flight Modes: Day/Night
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