Turkey’s First Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle “ULAQ” Will Be the New Guardian of the Blue Homeland
Operating with domestic capital in defense industry,
Antalya-based ARES Shipyard and Ankara-based Meteksan Defence, have
launched Turkey’s first Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle (AUSV) program as
a result of intensive R&D activities which have been going on for
the last couple of years. Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle, whose
prototype will be launched in December, is going to be the first
platform of the “ULAQ” line.
ULAQ; has been built from advanced composites, has 400 km range, 65 km/h
speed, day/night vision capabilities, encrypted communication
infrastructure, which can be operated from mobile vehicles and
headquarters or from sea platforms such as aircraft carriers or
frigates, will be used for missions like intelligence, surveillance,
reconnaissance, surface warfare, asymmetric warfare, escort missions,
strategic infrastructure protection.
The prototype vessel; whose design was completed in August and the
structural build has just been completed, is planned to be launched into
Mediterranean waters in December after completion of outfitting. First
AUSV’s missile systems are inclusive of 4 cells of Cirit and 2 of
L-UMTAS, supplied by our national missile systems provider ROKETSAN,
where the firing tests are planned in the first quarter of 2021.
Along with the missile systems, AUSV will be equipped with different
variations of communication and intelligence systems like jamming and
electronic warfare systems to correspond diverse operational needs. AUSV
will be able to carry out joint operations with complementary forces
such as UAV’s, AUAV’s and TUAV’s. Furthermore, AUSV is not only a
remotely controlled vehicle but also and more importantly an autonomous
vehicle that hosts artificial intelligence.
It is stated by ARES Shipyard and Meteksan Defence that; after the first
prototype vessel, other USVs for the operations like surveillance and
intelligence, mine counter measures, anti-submarine warfare,
firefighting, search and rescue missions, will be ready to manufacture
accordingly.
In the joint press conference dated 28 October 2020, ARES Shipyard CEO
Utku ALANC expressed; “We are indescribably happy and proud to announce
the launch of the first Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle program after
years of intensive engineering works and investments following our
dream. We have achieved this success and pride with our owner’s equity
investments by prioritizing our national interests as it always has
been. We hereby present the Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle (AUSV) as the
first platform of the “ULAQ” line to be launched in December. ULAQ is a
messenger, an envoy from the Ancient Turkish Culture who represents the
state with his extraordinary skills since Central Asia. Along with the
intelligence and experience, ULAQ possesses extreme warriorship
capabilities. Thereupon, the AUSV we have developed, have been named
after “ULAQ.”
Meteksan Defence CEO Selçuk Alparslan stated; “We have once again
understood the importance of the ”Blue Homeland” defense, economic
exclusive zone protection, protection of maritime borders of the Turkish
Peninsula especially with recently emerging disputes. As METEKSAN
Defence, we are very proud to utilize our technologic assets of know-how
in communication and sensor systems for development of Unmanned Surface
Vehicles and present you the very first Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle
of Turkey with ARES Shipyard today. While designing the critical
electronic systems of the platform, we have sought the maximum
indigenousness and fully considered the operational needs of Turkish
Armed Forces. May ULAQ bring the best of luck and success to Turkish
Armed Forces and to Blue Homeland.”