All eyes on new Turkish laser-armed bomb disposal drone

Turkish domestic production, the world's first laser-armed drone "Eren" attracts the attention of police agencies of foreign countries thanks to its 3,000-meter range and performance in defusing a bomb at a distance up to 100 meters with a laser gun.

The laser-armed drone "Eren" is currently on display at the stand of the Turkish Interior Ministry at TEKNOFEST, the world's largest aviation, space and technology festival in the Samsun city of Türkiye, TRT Haber reports.

Developed in cooperation with TÜBİTAK and ASİSGUARD under the coordination of the General Directorate of Security (EGM) Criminal Department, "Eren", named by Interior Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, can neutralize explosive elements with a laser from certain distances and fly up to 3,000 meters. The weapon is named after Eren Bulbul, a 15-year-old boy who was martyred by PKK terrorists in 2017.

Providing information about the laser-armed bomb disposal drone "Eren", chief inspector, a bomb expert at the Bomb Disposal Division of the Criminal Department at the Turkish Interior Ministry, Osman Tüysüz said the device was built with the efforts of Turkish engineers, with domestic and national resources.

"The laser pedestal under the drone will be able to neutralize carbon steel from a distance of 100 meters. We will have the ability to defuse the bomb in a completely safe zone. This will actually be the first time in the world. Police organisations in foreign countries are asking about its release time. There are demands for it. We will see "Eren" in the skies soon," he said.

Tüysüz added that "Eren", which has a flight range of 3 kilometres in the air, will be able to increase its capabilities at a reasonable firing time that a bomb disposal expert may need.