Suspected Russian-made drone found in northwestern Türkiye Photo/Updated

19 December 2025 20:03

Turkish authorities have expanded their investigation into a drone incident in the western province of Kocaeli, with initial findings suggesting the unmanned aerial vehicle may be a Russian-made Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone.

Security sources said the UAV was found inactive in a field in the Çubuklubala neighbourhood of İzmit district on December 19, after local residents alerted authorities. Gendarmerie units secured the area as a precaution, restricting access while initial examinations were carried out, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

Preliminary assessments indicated that the drone was largely intact. Specialists are now working to determine whether it was shot down, suffered a technical malfunction, or made an emergency landing. The UAV has been transferred to a secure facility for detailed forensic and technical analysis, including checks of its data storage devices, onboard cameras and communication systems.

The incident comes days after a separate airspace violation on December 15, when Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jets intercepted and shot down an unidentified drone near the central province of Çankırı after it reportedly ignored repeated warnings.

The Orlan-10 is a medium-range reconnaissance drone developed for the Russian military and has been widely observed in conflict zones such as Ukraine and Syria. It is typically deployed in coordinated groups of two or three units, allowing for combined reconnaissance, electronic warfare and data relay missions.

18:33

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of unknown origin crashed in the western Turkish province of Kocaeli.

Local residents informed authorities after finding the crashed drone in a rural area near the town of Çubuklu. Following the alert, gendarmerie units were dispatched to the scene to secure the area, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.