Solid Aero’s Sea Skimming Talay UAV Attracts Interest

Our Bureau - : Jan 20, 2026 - : 11:29 pm

Turkish firm Solid Aero, which is making its DIMDEX debut, is turning heads with the Talay unmanned aerial vehicle, the world’s first low-altitude multipurpose UAV. The aircraft will enter mass production once its maritime test missions are completed.

“Talay is a unique drone that is designed for maritime and coastal missions; it does not have a competitor,” said Sami Oner, Solid Aero Director of Sales. “Most drones are designed to fly at high altitudes. The optimal operating altitude of Talay is 30 cm to 1.5 meters over sea. It can go up to 150 meters over sea level, but that is not what it is made for.

“Because of its low altitude and high speed, Talay has very low, almost none, radar imprint. Therefore, it is virtually invisible. It is currently under development in the technology readiness level (TRL) 7 stage. We are hoping to have it ready by third quarter of this year, and hopefully commercially ready by the end of this year or beginning of 2027.”

Using the Wing-in Ground (WIG) effect, Talay cruises at 3 metres or less above the sea, operating stealthily. Capable of day and night operations, the UAV has foldable wings for rapid deployment. The military drone, which is capable of autonomous flight, can carry 30 kg of sensors or munitions, and flies at a maximum speed of 200 km per hour. The maximum flight endurance of the drone is three hours.

We are mainly developing our drones for the Turkish Armed Forces and Special Forces,” said Oner. “We have five drones, all of them developed in house with unique designs. Some of them are getting tested by the Turkish Armed Forces. We also develop customised drones for our clients.”

The Ankara-based company has made rapid progress since it was founded two years ago. Another under-development drone that the company is highlighting at the event is Zada, a mid-range tilt-motor ISR e-VTOL that can be assembled by a single operator in under three minutes. The drone offers two hours of uninterrupted flight and has a communication range of 50 km. Capable of carrying a one kg payload, it performs reliably even in harsh and contested environments.