Turkey's first Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle " ULAQ " has been launched.
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 AUSV’s missile systems are inclusive of 4 cells of Cirit and 2 of L-UMTAS, supplied by Turkish missile systems provider Roketsan, where the firing tests are planned in the end of Q1-2021. 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, fire-fighting, search and rescue missions, will be ready to manufacture accordingly. The versions of ULAQ are:
ULAQ - Armed Unmanned Surface Vessel
ULAQ - ISR & EW (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance & Electronic Warfare)
ULAQ ASuW - G/M (Anti-Surface Warfare - Guided Missile)
ULAQ - MCMV (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)
ULAQ - FiFi (Fire Fighting Vessel)
ULAQ is scheduled to carry out firing tests at the end of the first quarter of this year, following sea tests.