ARES Shipyard and Meteksan Defense have achieved a major breakthrough in the defense industry by securing their first export deal for the ULAQ Armed Unmanned Surface Vessel with Qatar.
The agreement was finalized during the Milipol Qatar Exhibition with the Qatari Ministry of Interior. This marks a historic moment for Türkiye, as it’s the country’s inaugural USV export project.
The ULAQ 11 PSV, a specialized port security vessel, is designed to fulfill the Qatar Coast Guard Command’s requirements for reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and critical infrastructure protection.
Upon delivery, the vessel will be equipped with advanced technology, including a 12.7mm remote-controlled weapon system, radar, encrypted communication systems, and autonomous software.
ARES Shipyard’s Deputy General Manager, Oğuzhan Pehlivanlı, expressed the company’s commitment to developing world-class USVs with diverse capabilities. The goal is to solidify Türkiye’s position as a leading innovator and reliable partner in the global defense market.
Meteksan Defense’s Deputy General Manager, Şükrü Serkan Sevim, highlighted the significance of this export achievement. He emphasized the company’s dedication to providing solutions that can withstand various maritime conditions and meet the evolving needs of Türkiye and its allies.
ULAQ 11 unmanned marine vehicles boast a range of 400 km, a speed of 65 km/h, day and night vision capabilities, and a domestically encrypted communications infrastructure, making them “more than just a remote-controlled boat, but rather an autonomous vessel”.
ULAQ development began in 2018, with research and concept studies conducted between 2018 and 2019. The production process of the prototype using domestic capabilities began in 2019, followed by its production phase in June 2020.
ARES Shipyard is responsible for the design, construction, and outfitting of the vehicles, while its partner Meteksan performed the integration of remote command, autonomous systems, data links, and data transfer systems.
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