SYS Group Brings Integrated Firepower to DSEI

INTERVIEW – DSEI 2025

General Manager Cahit Utku Aral speaks to
Military Systems & Technology and Marksman Communications
about the group’s evolving role as a global solutions provider.

SYS is leveraging British engineering expertise to deliver modular, mobile and cost-effective firepower for the modern battlefield.

Turkish defence manufacturer SYS Group used this year’s DSEI exhibition in London to highlight its transformation from a gunmaker into a complete solutions provider, showcasing its Venom LR 30 mm cannon alongside an expanding portfolio of integrated weapon systems.

At this year’s Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London, Turkish defence manufacturer SYS Group set out its ambition to become a global provider of fully integrated weapons solutions, moving beyond its well-known small arms portfolio.
 

With AEI Systems now part of the organisation,
SYS is combining British engineering and Turkish innovation
to deliver modular, mobile and cost-effective defence
systems for the modern battlefield.

Best recognised through its CANiK brand of pistols and heavy machine guns, SYS has in recent years broadened its horizons with the acquisition of AEI Systems in the UK. This has provided the group with an established range of medium-calibre cannon systems, particularly suited to aircraft, naval and land platforms, and firmly positioned SYS in the European market.

General Manager Cahit Utku Aral explained how this strategy has reshaped the group’s profile. “With AEI we are no longer simply a gun manufacturer. We can now deliver the weapon, the remote station, the sensor suite, the training and the long-term support. That makes us a solutions provider, and that is what modern customers expect,” he said.

The highlight of SYS’s stand at DSEI was the Venom LR, a 30×113 mm low-recoil revolver cannon. Compact yet powerful, the system is designed to counter modern aerial threats such as UAVs and loitering munitions. Its low recoil allows installation on lighter vehicles and vessels, and its gas-operated mechanism reduces power demands on the host platform. Crucially, the weapon is capable of firing both NATO and European-standard ammunition, including high-explosive and proximity-fused airburst rounds, giving operators flexibility across missions.

Aral emphasised the importance of mobility and cost-effectiveness in the current security environment. “It is not practical to deploy large, high-value air defence systems everywhere,” he said. “What is required are lightweight, affordable systems that can be placed in many locations. Venom LR answers that need by offering high firepower from a compact, easily integrated package.”

The group is also stepping up production of its CANiK M2 QCB heavy machine guns, already in service with a number of international customers. By combining this with its remote weapon station technologies, SYS is pursuing a modular, interchangeable approach. Its systems are designed so that components can be swapped rapidly in the field, minimising downtime. Training is delivered through CANiK Academy to ensure operators and armourers can maintain the weapons effectively throughout their life cycle.

Investment in research and development remains central. SYS allocates between eight and ten per cent of annual revenue – some 350 million dollars in sales – to advancing new systems. Alongside the Venom LR, the company is preparing to unveil a new 20 mm cannon and a 30×173 mm system intended as the “bigger brother” to the current 30 mm platform.

Integration is a recurring theme. SYS is working with radar manufacturers and sensor providers to ensure its weapons can be paired with detection systems for effective counter-drone roles. The group also sees significant opportunities for mounting its cannons on unmanned platforms, where their light weight and high rate of fire offer valuable protection to troops against swarming attacks.

For SYS, DSEI represents more than a showcase. It is a hub for engagement with platform manufacturers, integrators and end users from across the world. “DSEI has become an event where the entire defence community gathers,” Aral observed. “As doctrine changes and threats evolve, the demand for adaptable, integrated systems is increasing. SYS is ready to meet that demand, and this exhibition is the ideal place to demonstrate it.”