Antalya-based ARES Shipyard and Ankara-based Meteksan Defense successfully completed the firing tests by integrating a 12.7 mm remote-controlled weapon system into the ULAQ Unmanned Surface Vehicle.
ULAQ, which successfully destroyed the target by firing a missile for the first time in the world from an Unmanned Surface Vehicle in May 2021, will be the fearless guardian of sea borders, naval bases, ports and critical facilities with its new remote-controlled weapon system.
In the joint press release on January 24, 2022, Utku Alanç, General Manager of ARES Shipyard, and Selçuk Kerem Alparslan, President of Meteksan Defense, stated: 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 armed unmanned surface vehicle, ULAQ-AUSV. We are aware of how important the ULAQ Unmanned Surface Vehicle is in the protection of sea borders, naval bases, ports and critical facilities. In this context, we continue our intensive activities to integrate new systems to ULAQ within the scope of different requirements.”
Having cruising range of over 400 kilometers, over 70 kilometers speed per hour, day/night vision possibility, autonomy, crypto and electronic warfare protected communication infrastructure, manufactured from advanced composite material; ULAQ AUSV will be able to be benefited in executing tasks such as Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Intelligence, Surface Warfare, Asymmetric Warfare, Armed Escort and Force Protection, Strategic Facility Security. Unlike its version completed in 2021, Turkey’s First Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle ULAQ 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.
Following the new version, which is the first phase of the project initiated by ARES Shipyard and Meteksan Defence in the field of unmanned surface vessels and firing tests of which was successfully completed, the production of ULAQ unmanned surface vehicles for surveillance and intelligence, mine counter measures, anti-submarine warfare, firefighting, search and rescue missions will also be carried on.
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 high-tech products and subsystems for the Armed Forces and other security forces.
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 ships, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, development of anti-tank missile and air defense missile systems. The main state of the art products developed by METEKSAN Defence are radars for helicopters and UAVs, ground surveillance radars, altimeters, data links of tactical and strategic missile systems, sonar systems, underwater early warning and communication systems and training simulators.