Turkey Develops First Indigenous Stingray-shaped Armed Underwater Drone

Turkey’s defense company Albayraklar Savunma has developed the country’s first indigenous armed underwater drone, which resembles the sea creature ‘stingray’ in design and movement.

The newly announced "mobile naval mine", also known as wattozz (the Turkish word for stingray), that can be detonated to destroy enemy warships is made of titanium and aluminum and covered in silicone, Daily Sabah reports Monday.

According to the report, the wattozz can be used for surveillance or assault, controlled by encrypted acoustic sound waves, similar to those used by whales and dolphins for communication.

Electromagnetic magnets allow the naval mine to attacks to the hull of an enemy vessel and detonate on command.

When the weapon is not on a mission, it can rest on the seabed in sleep mode. Electromagnetic and ultrasound signals also protect it from predatory fish.

The firm partnered with Karadeniz Technical University to develop the weapon for the past two years and is expected to launch the wattozz in three months.