Page 19 - SAHA EXPO 2024 - DAY 3

Global Debut for ULAQ KAMA Expendable USV

ARES Shipyard, is showcasing for the first its distinct features, this new kamikaze country’s blue homeland and the
time in public its ‘game-changer’ ULAQ USV will present new and asymmetric op-
KAMA Expendable Unmanned Surface tions to operational decision-makers. The protection of our maritime in-
Vessel (USV). An actual ULAQ KAMA kamikaze boat is 6. 3m long, 1.25 m wide terests. Today, we are witness-
Expendable USV is on display at the show. and weighs 1.5 tonne. It has a range of 200 ing together that asymmetric
The ULAQ KAMA is a kamikaze USV and nautical miles and carries a 200 kg warhead
is the newest addition to the ULAQ Family, with insensitive explosive material. It also practices, just like in the past,
developed by Antalya-based ARES Shipyard carries an anti-GNSS system and features continue to have the potential
and Ankara-based Meteksan Defence. a SATCOM system as well. The USV can to alter the course of opera-
Speaking to Daily News, a company official attain a speed of 50 knots at sea and testing
said the ULAQ KAMA is the first autono- is currently underway. tions, even wars. By blending
mous kamikaze boat developed in Turkiye. the most advanced work carried
He added that ARES Shipyard had signed The new expendable USV was first un- out in this context with the expe-
a contract with the SSB for supply of four veiled by ARES Shipyard in August 2023.
of the kamikaze boats, with delivery sched- Following its launch, last year Utku Alanç, rience we have gained from the
uled next year. The official also added that Chief Executive Officer of ARES Shipyard, ULAQ Family, we are offering
the first test of the USV, in which it will be and Selçuk Kerem Alparslan, President of the ULAQ KAMA Expendable
exploded as part of a test with the Turkish Meteksan Defence, said that the ULAQ
Navy, is also expected sometime next tear. Family, Turkey’s first armed unmanned Unmanned Surface Vessel to
surface vessel, would continue to expand. the service of our country and
The ULAQ KAMA is a fully autonomous “We are aware of how important allies.”
vessel and not controlled via remote con-
trolled as was done by Ukraine with great the ULAQ Unmanned Surface
effect against Russian naval assets. With Vessel is for the defense of our The ULAQ KAMA can not only serve as a

deterrent weapon with its explosive payload
but can also be reconfigured to serve as an
Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance
(ISR) platform thanks to its uninterruptable
communication network, long-range, very
low silhouette and unique sea worthiness
beyond its dimensions. While announcing
this autonomous expendable USV pro-
gramme, ARES Shipyard had stated that
it would be able to deliver more than 100
ULAQ KAMAs to end-users in Turkiye, within
less than a year after the requirement was
notified. The shipyard has the production
infrastructure to produce as many of ex-
pendable USVs as soon as possible.

SAHA EXPO 2024 OCTOBER-24-2024 19