ULAQ
| History | |
|---|---|
 Turkey | |
| Name | ULAQ |
| Namesake | Turkish: ulak for government official envoy |
| Status | Prototype |
| Class overview | |
| Builders | Ares Shipyard, Meteksan Defense Systems |
| Operators | Turkish Navy, Qatari Emiri Navy |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Rigid boat |
| Length | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Speed | 35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph) |
| Range | 216 nmi (400 km; 249 mi) |
| Capacity | 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) |
| Armament |
|
ULAQ is the prototype of the first Turkish armed unmanned surface vessel (AUSV).
Background
[edit]ULAQ, a derivation of Turkish: ulak for government official envoy,[1] is the first of a series of AUSVs of Turkey, which was developed for the Turkish Navy by Ares Shipyard and Meteksan Defense Systems. The design studies completed by August 2020,[1] and the prototype was launched on 12 February 2021 in Antalya. It was planned that firing tests with guided missiles of Roketsan would be carried out by March 2021.[2][3] On 25 May 2021, the vessel successfully completed its first firing test. The Roketsan Cirit missile fired from the vessel destroyed the target with pinpoint accuracy.[4]
Characteristics
[edit]The vessel can be deployed from combat ships.[5] She can be controlled remotely from mobile vehicles, headquarters, command centers and floating platforms. It serves in missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence, surface warfare, asymmetric warfare, armed escort and force protection, and strategic facility security. It is planned that the vessel will operate jointly with other AUSVs, armed UAVs and aircraft,[3] and instantly transmit images and other data she obtains to provide major benefits to the operational capability of the Turkish Armed Forces.[6]
The ULAQ AUSV will come in 6 different variants each with its own type of mission and armament[7]
Made of advanced composite material,[8] the boat is 11 m (36 ft) long and has a payload capacity of 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). She has a range of 216 nmi (400 km; 249 mi) and a cruise speed of 35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph). She is operable at rough sea (sea state 5: 2.5–4 m (8.2–13.1 ft) wave height).[5] She has indigenous encrypted communications and day/night vision capabilities. She is resistant to electronic warfare and is equipped with an Anti-GPS jammer device.[2][3]
Armament
[edit]The ULAQ family has a modular design that allows different weapon, equipment and deployment configurations according to mission requirements.[9][10][11]
| Name | Mission | Armament / Equipment / Deployment |
|---|---|---|
| ULAQ Surface Combat / ASuW | Anti-surface warfare | 4× L-UMTAS or 2× L-UMTAS + 2× CIRIT missiles[12] |
| ULAQ Anti-ship | Anti-ship warfare | 4× ATMACA anti-ship missiles |
| ULAQ-11 Series | Port security, Anti-surface warfare, Anti-drone warfare, C2, MUM-T[13] | Modular remote weapon systems (typically 12.7 mm machine gun) |
| ULAQ ISR & EW | Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare[14] | Unarmed |
| ULAQ-12 Series | Anti-surface warfare (ASuW), Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), Anti-drone warfare | 2× ORKA lightweight torpedoes + 12 sonobuoys |
| ULAQ-15 Series | Mine countermeasures (MCM), Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), Long-range anti-surface warfare (ASuW) | Modular weapon systems (specific configuration not publicly detailed) |
| ULAQ-14 | Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), Search and rescue (SAR), Maritime security (MS) | Unarmed / Light armament options |
| ULAQ-6 KAMA | Expendable high-speed strike / swarm | Warhead up to 200 kg explosives |
| ULAQ FiFi | Firefighting[15] | Firefighting monitors and equipment |
| ULAQ MCMV | Mine countermeasures[16] | Mine detection and disposal systems |
ULAQ bears similarities to the Fleet-class common USV of Textron Systems, USA and the Protector USV of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Israel.[17]
Operators
[edit]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Türkiye'nin İlk Silahlı İnsansız Deniz Aracı "ULAQ" Mavi Vatanın Yeni Muhafızı Olacak" (in Turkish). Meteksan Savunma. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- 1 2 Özdemir Tosun, Hatice; Süleyman Elçin (15 December 2020). "Turkey unveils armed unmanned surface vessel prototype". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- 1 2 3 "Türkiye'nin ilk silahlı deniz aracı ULAQ suya indirildi". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 12 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ↑ "Armed Unmanned Marine Vehicle ULAQ Accurately Hit". RayHaber | RaillyNews. 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
- 1 2 "Mavi Vatan'ın İnsansız Muhafızı ULAQ" (in Turkish). Mavi Vatan. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ↑ Aksan, Sertaç (29 October 2020). "Yerli SİDA Mavi Vatan'da yeni bir dönem başlatacak". TRT Haber (in Turkish). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ↑ Kaplan, Süleyman (2021-04-25). "Silahlı İnsansız Deniz Aracı ULAQ atışlı testlere hazırlanıyor". DefenceTurk (in Turkish). Retrieved 2021-07-16.
- ↑ "Dünyada bir örneği daha yok!". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 15 December 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ↑ "ULAQ Silahlı İnsansız Deniz Aracı (SİDA)". Millisavunma.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ↑ "Silahlı İnsansız Deniz Aracı ULAQ atışlı testlere hazırlanıyor". DefenceTurk (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ↑ "Platforms". ULAQ Global. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ↑ "Roketsan Provides ULAQ's Teeth | TURDEF". Turdef.com. Feb 16, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- ↑ "ULAQ 11 PSV : Port Security Vessel" (PDF). Ulaq.global. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- ↑ Ozberk, Tayfun (June 20, 2021). "SINKEX: Watch Turkey's anti-ship missile Atmaca Sink a Ship in Final Test". Navalnews.com. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- ↑ "ULAQ completed firing tests with 12.7mm weapon system". Meteksan.com. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ↑ "Defence Products". Marids.es. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ↑ "Turkish Shipbuilder Develops New Armed, Unmanned Surface Vessel". The Maritime Executive. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ↑ "Türkiye'nin ilk silahlı insansız deniz aracı yerli silahıyla göreve başladı". Aa.com.tr. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- ↑ "First Export Naval Contract for ULAQ Armed Unmanned Surface Vessel Accomplished with Qatar". Metekdsan.com. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- ↑ "Qatar Shows Interest into Ares Shipyard and Meteksan's Ulaq | TURDEF". Turdef.com. March 16, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- ↑ "Qatar orders Turkish Ulaq USV". Janes.com. Nov 1, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2026.