Turkey’s ULAQ Armed USV Hits Target

ULAQ Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle (AUSV), developed by Turkish companies Meteksan Defence and ARES Shipyard, successfully completed missile firing tests during Turkish Navy’s Sea Wolf 2021 Naval Exercise.

Two CIRIT Laser Guided Missiles fired from ULAQ AUSV and both of them successfully hit the target.

The ULAQ AUSV firing ceremony, attended by senior officials from Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industries, Ministry of Defense, Turkish Naval Forces Command and Coast Guard Command, was started with the speeches of ARES Shipyard CEO Utku Alanç and Meteksan Defence  President Selçuk Alparslan.

ARES Shipyard’s CEO Utku Alanç expressed that with the completion of the firing tests, they are aiming to develop the World's Best Unmanned Surface Vehicles and pioneer the world as Turkish Engineers in this field. He also underlined that they have targeted to bring Turkey in a leading position in the world, creating trends in the field of USVs, just like the indigenous UAVs.

After the opening speeches, ULAQ AUSV, which was positioned in the south of Antalya Bay with Turkish Navy’s other combatant manned platforms, took action and was directed from the Mobile Coastal Control Station (MCCS) and transferred to the firing area. The Naval Forces Command and Coast Guard Command platforms also accompanied the firing. After the target was detected by sensors on the ULAQ, CIRIT Laser Guided Missiles were fired and resulted with direct hit on the target.

ULAQ AUSV can be operated via mobile vehicles on land and from headquarters command center or from floating platforms such as aircraft carriers and frigates in the execution of missions such as Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Intelligence, Surface Warfare, Asymmetric Warfare, Armed Escort and Force Protection, Critical Facility Security.

The system is equipped with four CIRIT and two L-UMTAS Missile Systems provided by Turkey’s missile systems manufacturer ROKETSAN. ULAQ AUSV can also be configured with different types of payloads such as extended range surface-to-surface, surface-to-ground, surface-to-air missiles, electronic warfare, jamming, and different communication and intelligence systems as well as missile systems to meet different operational needs.

Moreover ULAQ AUSV, which has the ability to operate with other AUSVs with equal or different structure, and conduct joint operations with UAVs, AUAVs, TUAVs and manned aircraft; is not only a remotely controlled unmanned vehicle, but a state-of-the-art autonomous vessel with superior capabilities thanks to its artificial intelligence  features.

Following the AUSV version, which is the first phase of the project initiated by ARES Shipyard and Meteksan Defence, unmanned surface vehicles for intelligence and electronic warfare, mine hunting, anti-submarine warfare, firefighting and humanitarian aid/evacuation will also be commenced for production.