The Ulaq ASW-configured USV built by Ares and Meteksan for the Turkish Navy. (Devrim Yaylali)
Türkiye's shipbuilding industry is accelerating efforts to deliver specialised unmanned surface vessels (USVs) to the Turkish Navy.
Following the commissioning into service of the Marlin USV developed under the Sefine Shipyard-Aselsan partnership in February 2024, three additional USVs being developed by the Ares Shipyard-Meteksan joint venture, Yonca Onuk-Havelsan partnership, and Dearsan are also on track to join the fleet before the end of 2024.
The USVs are being delivered to the Turkish Navy under separate contracts signed by the shipyards with the Turkish Defence Industry Agency (SSB) for the prototype production of autonomous surface vessels. Each vessel is tailored for distinct operational roles.
Speaking to Janes at the recent Saha Defence Exhibition in Istanbul, Türkiye, Onur Yıldırım, unmanned systems manager at Ares Shipyard, said the first phase of sea-acceptance tests (SATs) for the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variant of its Ulaq USV has been completed. The second phase will be conducted at the beginning of December, with delivery to the Turkish Navy expected to follow, he said. Meanwhile, officials from Sefine and Yonca shipyards told Janes at Saha that they have reached similar stages with their USVs.
Ulaq ASW
Yıldırım told Janes that the Ulaq ASW variant to be delivered to the Turkish Navy features a specially adapted sonar developed by Meteksan for shallow waters, derived from the Yakamos sonar technology used on Ada-class corvettes. The sonar is capable of detecting submarines, autonomous underwater vehicles, and divers.
Measuring 12 m in length, with a beam of 3.74 m and a draught of 0.85 m, this variant is larger than its prototype, offering increased stability and payload capacity, he said.
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