The Turkish Navy’s first locally-developed unmanned combat surface vessel has taken out a target with a laser-guided missile as part of its sea trials.
The event, which took place during the (Sea Wolf) DENIZKURDU-2021 exercise, marked the first time the vessel launched a missile at sea.
Dubbed ULAQ, the USV carries four cells of the Cirit laser-guided 70 mm missiles and two L-UMTAS long range laser guided anti-tank precision missiles supplied by ROKETSAN.
The missile fired during the DENIZKURDU exercise being held in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean between May 25 and June 06 was a Cirit missile, according to the Turkish defense ministry.
In addition to ULAQ, Turkey is working on developing a range of different USVs that could support anti-submarine warfare, mine hunting firefighting, and humanitarian aid missions. Ares Shipyard, the vessel developer, says that ULAQ is not only a remotely controlled vehicle but also an autonomous vehicle that hosts artificial intelligence.
In addition to USVs, the large scale DENIZKUDU drill will provide a venue for the participation of unmanned aerial vehicles, in addition to ships, submarines and other aircraft. The exercise will be attended by 25,500 personnel.
