ARES Shipyard and Meteksan Defense successfully completed the firing tests by integrating a 12.7 mm remote-controlled weapon system into the ULAQ platform, Turkey’s first Armed Unmanned Marine Vehicle.
ULAQ, which successfully destroys the target by firing a missile from an Unmanned Marine Vehicle for the first time in the world in 2021, will be the fearless guard of bases and ports with its new remote-controlled weapon system.
Utku Alanç and Selçuk Kerem Alparslan, ARES Shipyard’s General Manager and Meteksan Defense’s General Manager, made a joint statement: “We would like to express with great pride and happiness that we have successfully completed all tests, including the firing tests with the 12.7mm weapon system of Turkey’s first armed unmanned marine vehicle, ULAQ-SİDA, and that we are ready to take charge.
We are aware of how important the ULAQ Unmanned Marine Vehicle is for the defense of our country’s Blue Homeland, the protection of our maritime continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. Accordingly, we continue our intensive activities to integrate new systems to ULAQ within the scope of different needs.”
ULAQ SİDA, which has a cruising range of more than 400 kilometers, a speed of over 70 kilometers per hour, day/night vision capabilities, autonomous navigation algorithms, encrypted and electronic warfare protected communication infrastructure and built from advanced composite materials, can be used by land mobile vehicles, headquarters command center or floating platforms in the execution of missions such as Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Intelligence, Surface Warfare (SUH), Asymmetric Warfare, Armed Escort and Force Protection, Strategic Facility Security.
Turkey’s first and only Armed Unmanned Marine Vehicle ULAQ, unlike its version completed in 2021, is equipped with a 12.7mm remote-controlled weapon system for critical base/facility and port defense purposes in addition to reconnaissance and patrol missions.
Constructed of advanced composite material, the boat is 11 m (36 ft) long, has a capacity of carrying 2,000 kg (4,400 lb), and can operate in rough seas (sea state 5: wave height of 2.5–4 m (8.2–13.1 ft).
On the other hand, following the new version of the project initiated by ARES Shipyard and Meteksan Defense in the field of unmanned marine vehicles, the production of ULAQ unmanned marine vehicles for intelligence gathering, mine hunting, anti-submarine warfare, fire extinguishing, and humanitarian aid/evacuation will continue.