- Egypt signed a $130 million contract with Turkey’s MKE to acquire the TOLGA SHORAD system for countering drones, cruise missiles, and other low-altitude threats.
- The deal follows TOLGA’s first export to Qatar and reflects growing regional demand for integrated, modular air defense systems focused on counter-UAS missions.
Egypt has signed a $130 million contract to acquire the Turkish-developed TOLGA short-range air defense system.
According to a press release issued by Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi (MKE), the agreement was concluded with the Egyptian Ministry of Defence and covers the delivery of the TOLGA SHORAD system, which is designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles, tactical drones, smart munitions, and cruise missiles.
The company said the deal reflects growing international demand for its air defense solutions. “These consecutive export successes constitute an important reference confirming MKE TOLGA SHORAD’s sustainable export capability, proven field performance and strong competitiveness in the global market,” the company stated.
The contract represents one of the largest recent exports of a Turkish counter-UAS system and follows TOLGA’s first international deployment, which MKE confirmed took place in Qatar last month.
The TOLGA SHORAD system was developed to address the rise of low-cost aerial threats on modern battlefields, particularly drones used for reconnaissance and strike missions. MKE said the system was designed under an “Effective – Simple – Affordable” concept to allow rapid deployment and flexible integration.
TOLGA combines command-and-control elements, radar, electro-optical sensors, electronic jamming equipment, and multiple weapon systems into a single modular architecture. The system neutralizes aerial targets using both electronic and kinetic methods.
In so-called Soft-Kill operations, hostile drones detected by the system can be disrupted through electronic jamming at ranges of up to 10 kilometers. For Hard-Kill engagement, TOLGA employs weapon systems in 12.7 mm, 20 mm, and 35 mm calibers, all produced by MKE, alongside purpose-designed anti-drone ammunition.
MKE said the specialized ammunition is engineered to create a fragmentation cloud around the target, increasing the probability of destroying small and agile drones. According to the company, the 35 mm anti-drone rounds are effective at distances of up to 3,000 meters, the 20 mm ammunition up to 1,000 meters, and the 12.7 mm option up to 300 meters.
The system can operate in manual, semi-autonomous, or fully autonomous modes, depending on operational requirements. Its modular design allows integration into fixed installations, mobile platforms, armored or unarmored vehicles, and naval platforms.
MKE said this flexibility was a key factor in attracting foreign customers seeking layered air defense against drones and low-flying threats without relying on expensive missile interceptors.