ULAQ: Turkey’s First Indigenous AUSV

06.06.2022 Products
ULAQ: Turkey’s First Indigenous AUSV

ULAQ: Turkey’s First Indigenous AUSV

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Operating with domestic funds in the defence industry, ARES Shipyard and METEKSAN Defence have launched Turkey’s first Armed Unmanned Surface Vessel (AUSV) programme as a result of intensive R&D activities, which have been carried out for the last couple of years.

AUSV is the first prototype platform of the “ULAQ” Family, which successfully destroyed the target with guided missiles from an Unmanned Surface Vessel for the first time in the world. ULAQ successfully completed all tests including the 12.7mm weapon system.

ULAQ brings about a great advantage over conventional manned platforms due to its dramatically lower life cycle costs. Likewise, they are lighter than conventional vessels and provide greater endurance with the same level of supplies. Additionally, ULAQ is more advanced than manned platforms in terms of threat detection, and generating a better situational awareness, as a result of its state-of-the-art sensors.

The most important force multiplier effect of the ULAQ USVs, effective in areas of reconnaissance, surveillance, transportation, maritime patrol, search and rescue; is that they can also be used in attack scenarios. It is another aptitude that they can not only provide information with intelligence, but also undertake very important tasks such as target marking, detection, deterrence and destruction of surface and subsurface vessels, providing frontline defence of homeland and strategic base/port/platform assets. Consequently, the ULAQ USVs are able to carry out many more tasks more effectively and at a lower cost.

The first ULAQ prototype is a fast, guided missile-carrying version. The prototype ULAQ, with its longer cruising range and speed over 35 knots, day/night vision capability, more autonomy, encrypted and EW protected communication infrastructure; is capable of executing tasks such as Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Intelligence, Surface Warfare, Asymmetric Warfare, Armed Escort and Force Protection as well as Strategic Facility Security. The second version of the prototype completed in 2021, is equipped with a 12.7mm remote-controlled weapon system for critical base/facility and port security missions in addition to reconnaissance and patrolling.

Following the existing version, which is the first phase of the project initiated by ARES Shipyard and METEKSAN Defence in the field of USVs whose firing tests have been successfully completed, serial production of the ULAQ USVs for ISR, SAR, ASW, MCM and Fi-Fi applications are currently underway as a result of the know-how gained with the prototype tests.

In particular, in addition to the Anti-Surface Warfare version which is in serial production for the Turkish Navy, two new versions of the ULAQ Family are in line for production for different end users in Unmanned SAR Vessel and Anti-Submarine Warfare versions. A longer-range anti-surface missile (of roughly 150km) equipped ULAQ version, is also currently in the detailed design phase and planned to be ready for missile firing tests by the end of 2022.

 



 
 

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