ARES Shipyard and Meteksan Defence, which had initiated Turkey’s first indigenous Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle (AUSV) program in October 2020, announced that the prototype vessel, ULAQ AUSV has been launched and sea trials have been started.



In the joint press release, Utku Alanç, Chief Executive Officer of ARES Shipyard, and Selçuk K. Alparslan, General Manager of Meteksan Defence, stated: "In the field of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs); we would like to proudly announce that we have launched the first Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle of ULAQ series, and have initiated the intensive sea trials period. From now on, our next short term target is to complete the sea trials successfully and carry out the guided missile firing tests. Since the very first announcement of ULAQ Unmanned Systems, we have encountered significant interest from our country and our allies. This interest and support has given us great incentive to design and build unique, state-of-the-art solutions. On this wise, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Turkish Ministry of National Defense, The Presidency of Defense Industries and Turkish Naval Forces and all our citizens who have provided full support since the very first launch of ULAQ program."

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.

About ARES Shipyard:

Comprising five production facilities located in the Antalya Free Zone, ARES Shipyard has built more than 100 vessels in various classes and lengths. ARES Shipyard fulfills various types of military and commercial marine platform needs with its young and dynamic team, customer-oriented approach and Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) system.

At the heart of ARES Shipyard’s success are its willingness to partner with leading design and equipment providers around the world such to produce best-in-class vessel designs, to use the latest technology and highly-trained personnel to ensure superior build quality, and, above all, to fully engage with the client at all stages to ensure that their needs are met or exceeded.

With these principles, ARES Shipyard has become one of the largest composite and aluminum boat builders in Europe, awarded the titles of World’s Best Patrol Boat Builder, Turkey’s fastest-growing company and its largest exporter of military and commercial vessels.

About METEKSAN Defence:

Meteksan Defence Industry Inc. was established in 2006 in order to combine and coordinate the projects and activities of the high technology companies operating within the body of Bilkent Holding for the defense industry on a single roof. The establishment purpose of the company is to develop and produce independent and unique high-tech products and subsystems for the Turkish Armed Forces and other security forces in line with the vision of The Presidency of Defense Industries.

Meteksan Defence, which operates in six fields being the Radar Systems, Perimeter Surveillance Systems, Laser and Electro-Optic Systems, Communication Systems, Underwater Acoustic Systems and Platform Simulators, takes part in critical platform projects such as domestic ships, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, development of anti-tank missile launching systems and air defense missile systems. The main domestic and state of the art products developed by Meteksan Defence are radar for helicopters and UAVs, surveillance radars, altimeters, data links of tactical and strategic missile systems, sonar systems, underwater early warning and communication systems and training simulators.