TR Navy ULAQ ¦ SANCAR ¦ MIR ¦ SALVO | Unmanned Surface Vehicles, News and Updates

boredaf

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Anmdt

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I hadn't seen these brochures for Aselsan's USVs before on their website:




Looking at their payload options makes it very obvious that each USV will have very clearly defined roles. Instead of one platform that can be used for different purposed with modular structure.
Marlin started as a project to supply an USV for SSB's USV acquisition (and related tender). More as a demonstrator to achieve milestones in the related project.

Mir has started, in parallel, as an R&D project to study modularization of the payload, as well as modularization of the hull configuration.

There is another iteration following these two, that will be the actual product delivered to TN with the acquisition programme.

Mir and Marlin shares components in great extends with different designs.

Albatros is, however, a different story that has been Aselsan's USV development path. And until now has been used as an R&D platform.
 

boredaf

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Marlin started as a project to supply an USV for SSB's USV acquisition (and related tender). More as a demonstrator to achieve milestones in the related project.

Mir has started, in parallel, as an R&D project to study modularization of the payload, as well as modularization of the hull configuration.

There is another iteration following these two, that will be the actual product delivered to TN with the acquisition programme.

Mir and Marlin shares components in great extends with different designs.

Albatros is, however, a different story that has been Aselsan's USV development path. And until now has been used as an R&D platform.
I noticed Mir and Marlin's shared components as well, and Albatros' difference. It doesn't seem like it has a defined role so far, other than it has swarm capabilities and has target USV iterations on Aselsan's website. It looks to me like it is something we can use in training and could be used as decoys to force enemy to engage them along with actual USV.

This another iteration you mention, will it still be two specialized version like now, or do you think it is going to be single platform with modular structure that can be configured for different missions like surface or submarine warfare?
 

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Chinese People's Liberation Army Daily newspaper:

Türkiye attempts coordinated operations with drones and unmanned boats​


Not long ago, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that it had carried out the world’s first joint operation of unmanned surface ships and drones. It is reported that the operation was set near the Eastern Mediterranean. A 22-meter-long target ship was first detected by the Bayraktar TB2 drone. The target information was then transmitted to the Albatros-S, which consists of 8 Albatros unmanned boats. A group of surface ships, one of which sank the target ship.

In recent years, the development of unmanned equipment has entered the fast lane. Generally speaking, the advantages of drones are large search range and long communication distance, but their limitation is short endurance time; the advantage of unmanned boats is long endurance time, but small search range and short communication distance. UAV and UAV cooperative operations can combine the advantages of both to form an air-sea three-dimensional collaborative system to enhance the ability of unmanned systems to complete complex tasks. In the absence of manned vessels such as frigates, destroyers, and conventional submarines, the effective collaboration of drones and unmanned boats can carry out intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, attack and other tasks for a long time.

The application prospects of UAV-boat collaboration are very broad. Theoretically, where drones can be used in water combat areas, it is possible to achieve coordinated operations between aircraft and boats. Therefore, countries around the world have invested in the research and development of corresponding equipment and technologies for UAV and boat collaboration, and have verified the operability of the concept of UAV and boat collaborative operations. In this test, Turkey used the Bayraktar TB2 drone developed by Baykar Company and the Albatros unmanned boat developed by Aselsan Company.

For UAVs and boats to cooperate in combat, the combat platform must first have the ability to communicate beyond visual range. The TB2 UAV communication range is 300 kilometers, and the Albatross UAV is equipped with a radio frequency communication system, a narrowband satellite communication system and a 4.5G/LTE communication system for short-range and over-the-horizon command and control within the group.

The ability of autonomous collaborative control is the key to collaborative operations of UAVs. TB2 can achieve safe and autonomous flight operations. Its sensor fusion algorithm has an inertial navigation system, which can achieve precise navigation and automatic landing even without global positioning signals. The Albatross UAV can operate in a swarm formation or independently navigate and perform missions. Its control system can adjust navigation according to different formations, avoid obstacles, and can complete the mission even when the number of swarms may be reduced; At the same time, tasks can also be allocated autonomously among clusters, and its autonomous capabilities extend to task planning, task allocation, sensor fusion and dynamic route planning, allowing autonomous adjustments or ending tasks according to various surrounding environmental conditions.

Taken together, Turkey's coordinated attack by drones and unmanned boats reflects a new way of coordinated operations of unmanned systems in future sea and air battlefields, such as using drones to detect and capture targets, and unmanned boat clusters to carry out attacks. Of course, cooperative operations between drones and unmanned boats also face some practical problems: limited by the level of energy technology, the duration of coordinated operations is restricted, artificial intelligence and algorithm capabilities limit the number of controllable unmanned systems, and UAVs and unmanned boats Communication between manned vessels is susceptible to interference, and unmanned vessels can carry limited ammunition on a single platform, etc.

 

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Ares Shipyard CEO:

Expecting to deliver good news on large batch export of ULAQ USV to a Gulf State.

Expecting to win a tender in the Gulf, with a local partner shipyard, competing against a European shipyard that has been losing few tenders against Ares in multiple fields. 90% of the project will be covered by Ares shipyard. *


*Referring to partnership with ADSB, therefore delivering new OPVs to the UAE.
The same news also state that Ares is in collaboration with a foreign company and local institute to incorporate robotic welding in shipbuilding and automation in boat building (for the boats like Kama, specifically). From this perspective, if we may achieve a low-cost solution for the electronics, auxiliaries and propulsion unit Kama may turn out to be as affordable as an Anti-ship missile.
 

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GDL9doWXkAAuSJO


The 12-meter ULAQ USV is coming.
 

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GDL9doWXkAAuSJO


The 12-meter ULAQ USV is coming.
Looks like design language changed a bit from the original 3D artwork and they are following the models from 2022 now. Wonder if it will be the ASW or ASuW variant.
uYimgzE.jpeg


apDGVC7.jpeg

 

boredaf

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Looks like design language changed a bit from the original 3D artwork and they are following the models from 2022 now. Wonder if it will be the ASW or ASuW variant.
uYimgzE.jpeg


apDGVC7.jpeg

I hope they'll at least integrate Çakır in the surface variant.
 

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An article about ULAQ KAMA, but only in turkish language.

EDIT: Added translated version (Google)

  • Technological Trends
  • Defense Planning Concept
  • Operational Planning Concept
  • Use of ULAQ KAMA in Naval Operations
 

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Strong AI

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An article about ULAQ KAMA, but only in turkish language.

EDIT: Added translated version (Google)

  • Technological Trends
  • Defense Planning Concept
  • Operational Planning Concept
  • Use of ULAQ KAMA in Naval Operations

"• Can be produced quickly, easily, and cheaply
• Has a cruising range of over 200 NM and a high speed of 50+ knots
• The probability of detection is very difficult due to its small radar cross-section and extremely low infrared signature
• Even in a GNSS jamming environment, it can navigate safely in shallow waters, within harbors, and on the open sea, in remote-controlled or AI-supported autonomous/semi-autonomous modes
• Can contribute to reconnaissance and surveillance activities with its onboard sensor payloads
• When it hits its target, it can precisely detonate a 200 kg explosive payload to create a wound near the waterline of the target
• Can independently attack the target in swarm mode with other boats or other Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)
• Capable of predicting the target's defensive maneuvers in advance and developing tactics against these maneuvers
• Can perform defensive maneuvers against the enemy's defense fire

• Can be launched into the sea from a coastal area or a vessel as small as a tug
• Can wait unnoticed in the sea at a low speed, taking advantage of the low probability of detection, and when it makes contact with the target, it can independently or in coordination with other boats, execute the most suitable attack maneuver
• Can infiltrate undetected into areas where target elements are hiding/waiting, make distinctions between detected targets in these areas, and attack chosen targets
• If it cannot find a target or when required, it can return to a predetermined area and safely deactivate itself
• Can perform waiting, target selection, attack, and re-attack processes in autonomous, semi-autonomous, or remote-controlled modes, all of which can be controlled by operators (human in the loop or human on the loop)"

"ULAQ KAMA, much smaller than the KARTAL Class attack boats, based on your experience, you anticipate that the detection range by a surface ship cannot be more than 4000 yards (3600 meters) even under the best conditions. Thanks to ULAQ KAMA's high speed, you calculate that it will reach its target in 4 minutes or less by covering this distance. The target has a very short time to defend itself. An enemy aware that you have a weapon like ULAQ KAMA will either not go to sea or will compromise its own concealment by implementing measures such as activating its active sensors to eliminate detection asymmetry. There are also no humans on ULAQ KAMA. So, you will be able to execute surface operations in areas under enemy control without risking your firing platform and your personnel."

"You are curious about ULAQ KAMA's resilience to defensive fires that could be opened by the enemy. You are aware that its small size and maneuverability make it a challenging target to hit, and upon examining its detailed features, you also notice meticulous design ideas such as; the selection of explosive materials on board that won't detonate with bullet hits, additional ballistic protections provided for vital parts of the boat, and the strategy to preserve the boat’s buoyancy by evacuating any water that could have entered as a result of hits, using powerful pumps."
 
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Strong AI

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Like i have mentioned earlier Kama is being introduced to complement AShMs, to coexist.

"You can easily predict that ULAQ KAMA's detection will be quite difficult, especially at night and under restricted visibility conditions with radar and even electro-optic systems. This is expected to create a surprise effect on the enemy, especially in regions where distances are shorter compared to open seas, such as coastal waters. Thanks to the ability to use ULAQ KAMA against an enemy benefiting from coastal waters' geography, provided that sufficient intelligence is obtained, you can attack enemy surface elements hiding in places like coves, ports or shelters where guided ammunition cannot be effective, with minimal risk. You believe that an enemy aware of this capability will not be able to use such positions as freely as before.
ULAQ KAMA is also capable of reporting the location of a detected target with high precision. This feature not only makes it a weapon, but also a reconnaissance and surveillance platform and a "target reporting element", allowing it to be used in conjunction with guided ammunition."
 

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1705827828650.jpeg


Stamp-2L foundation is minimal and the system overally looks tiny. Could be the ultimate solution even for the smallest boats to replaces manned MGs.
 

Anmdt

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Is this a new version? I don't remember a Stamp variant this small, that looks awesome.
There was a Stamp-L, made light for platforms which require it and this is adoption of such philisophy for Stamp-2. I would expect the same for others too.
 

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1707131016334.jpeg


Spectacular, but not very pleasant. I would still like to see forward facing launchers on a high speed platform.

Roketsan needs a smaller footprint, modular, easy to install-remove box launcher for Çakır, cylindirical launchers are not feasible or fancy to the eye. Similar to the following technique; 2 or 4 of the missiles should be replenished at once by removing a module, thus shortening the replenishment time on land.
 

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View attachment 65346

Spectacular, but not very pleasant. I would still like to see forward facing launchers on a high speed platform.

Roketsan needs a smaller footprint, modular, easy to install-remove box launcher for Çakır, cylindirical launchers are not feasible or fancy to the eye. Similar to the following technique; 2 or 4 of the missiles should be replenished at once by removing a module, thus shortening the replenishment time on land.
I agree, but side facing launchers shouldn't be this big of an issue for standoff ranges of 40+ kms, no? For Kuzgun however....
 

boredaf

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View attachment 65346

Spectacular, but not very pleasant. I would still like to see forward facing launchers on a high speed platform.

Roketsan needs a smaller footprint, modular, easy to install-remove box launcher for Çakır, cylindirical launchers are not feasible or fancy to the eye. Similar to the following technique; 2 or 4 of the missiles should be replenished at once by removing a module, thus shortening the replenishment time on land.
At this point, I'm just glad they are using Çakır instead of just Umtaş. Maybe they can come up with something like Hisar's launcher?
 

Anmdt

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I agree, but side facing launchers shouldn't be this big of an issue for standoff ranges of 40+ kms, no? For Kuzgun however....
I am concerned from these two points, first two strong, latter is weak;
- Time spent for replenishment at shore, a box module may shorten it or make it easy if done on a mothership, even automated.
- Footprint of the launcher in comparison to missile size will be smaller (this, Roketsan needs to work on, maybe with foldable air intake).
- RCS of the canisters (forward angle)
 

Strong AI

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Roketsan needs a smaller footprint, modular, easy to install-remove box launcher for Çakır, cylindirical launchers are not feasible or fancy to the eye. Similar to the following technique; 2 or 4 of the missiles should be replenished at once by removing a module, thus shortening the replenishment time on land.

More like this, but for CAKIR?

 

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