Turkey has unveiled a high-tech tank armed with lasers designed to take out drones on the battlefield.
The ALKA-KAPLAN vehicle is equipped with a weapon system which is capable of detecting and neutralising drones.
It will be displayed at the International Defence Industry Fair, hosted by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of National Defence, this week.
Turkish weapon manufacturer FNSS said the tank "marks the inception of a new-generation mobile armoured anti-drone system".
The weapon system in the vehicle uses tracking algorithms supported by artificial intelligence.
This can show the highest impact in the shortest time possible.
The tank can meanwhile block drones using an electromagnetic jamming weapon and destroy them using lasers.
It can further be used for the destruction of bomb traps, such as in residential areas, and to destroy or neutralise Improvised Explosive Devices placed on roadsides and unexploded ordnance.
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FNSS
|The ALKA-KAPLAN is being showcased this week
"The system eliminates the need for a separate generator for a high-energy system, allowing the generator used for vehicle propulsion to also be used for weapon systems or other mission equipment, FNSS said.
"Furthermore, when the generator unit is not in active use, it provides the [tank] with over a 10 per cent additional operational range."
Drones have increasingly been used on the modern battlefield, including between Russia and Ukraine.
FNSS
|The tank features lasers capable of taking done drones
Vladimir Putin was forced to shut four Moscow airports last week after Ukraine launched hundreds of drones towards the Russian capital in a fourth successive blitz.
Ukraine launched 392 drones towards Russia over the period of five days, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.
Hundreds of passenger aircraft were forced to divert, with authorities having to close airspace over Moscow twice.
It impacted Zhukovsky, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo airports.