According to a statement issued by the official Twitter account of ARES Shipyard, the contract covers the ASuW (Anti-surface Warfare) and ASW (Anti-submarine Warfare) variants of the USV. ULAQ USVs are expected to enter service for the Turkish Navy in the following months.
ULAQ is the first USV developed by the Turkish defense industry. After completing all of the trials in January 2022, the production phase of the ASuW (Anti-Surface Warfare) and PS (Port Security) variants has started. As these processes have been continuing, SSB released a new video unveiling the significant capabilities of the ULAQ, including a new configuration for Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW).
The New Configuration of ULAQ USV
The new configuration, recently unveiled with a video from SSB, includes a locally manufactured propulsion system and has a 90% indigenization rate. With the new ASW payload, ULAQ is expected to be a force multiplier in ASW operations, especially in coastal waters.
The configuration of ULAQ features;
- Light, durable, and proven composite hull,
- Active and passive stabilization systems,
- Seaworthiness in tough sea conditions
- Enhanced vision and driving abilities with LIDAR wide-angle navigation camera, radar, and EO/IR camera,
- AKSON C-Band Data link and swarm communication,
- Sattelite communication
- Interoperability with UAVs, UCAVs, USVs, and UCSVs,
- Precise maneuverability in littoral waters,
- Full autonomy with image processing and sensor fusion,
- Emergency mode,
- Stationary and mobile control station options.
The weapon and sensor configurations for ASuW and ASW;
- 12.7 mm RCWS
- Tactical missile control system (laser-guided L-UMTAS and Cirit)
- ASW rockets
- NG lightweight torpedoes
- Towed array sonar
- Dipping sonar
- Telescopic sonar
- Indigenous engine
In September 2022, ARES Shipyard signed an agreement with TÜMOSAN, a Turkish engine manufacturer, to equip ULAQ with indigenous diesel engines.
In 2020, ARES Shipyard and Meteksan unveiled the following variants of the ULAQ USV family. After completing testing of the ASuW variant, the joint venture also conducted firing trials of the PS version, which is armed with an RCWS instead of the missile launcher. The joint venture also showcased the ASW variant at the DIMDEX 2022 exhibition, held March 21-23, 2022, in Doha, Qatar.
