MENA NEWS Turkey Developing New Unmanned Vessel
Sep 8, 2021
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In recent years, Turkey has been developing more and more military platforms manufactured domestically. An unmanned anti-submarine warfare vessel has been designed and developed by Turkish shipyard Ares,
which hopes to begin mass production this year. The ULAQ DSH/ASW successfully passed laser-guided firing tests and will first enter service with Turkey’s military before the company seeks export contracts.
Oman, Qatar, and African and South American countries were mentioned as potential customers. According to the company, 90 percent of the vessel will be homemade, including its guns.
The surface warfare variant is equipped with day and night vision capabilities as well as encrypted communication infrastructure, which can be operated from mobile vehicles and headquarters or from sea platforms such as aircraft carriers or frigates. That infrastructure can be used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, surface warfare, asymmetric warfare, escort missions and strategic infrastructure protection.
The surface warfare variant’s missile systems are inclusive of four cells of Cirit and two of L-UMTAS, manufactured by Turkey’s state-controlled missile-maker Roketsan. The ULAQ will also be equipped with different variations of communication and intelligence technology, like jamming and electronic warfare systems, to cover diverse operational needs. The vessel is also expected to be able to carry out joint operations with complementary drones, according to defensenews.com.