Onuk MRTP34 THAT ASSUARY High-Speed Attack Craft Delivered to the Qatari Navy
The first vessel among its class, the Advanced Composite ONUK MRTP34 THAT ASSUARY (Q-31) Fast Patrol/ Attack Craft manufactured for the Qatari Navy by Yonca-Onuk Joint Venture has been delivered with a ceremony. Deputy Minister of National Defence Hasan Kemal Yardımcı, Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Ganim Bin Shaheen Alganim, Commander of the Qatari Naval Forces Muhammed Bin Nasser Al Mohanan, Undersecretary for Defence Industries Mr. Murad Bayar and many military-defence representatives participated in the ceremony held at Yonca-Onuk Shipyard in Tuzla.
Commander of the Qatari Naval Forces Muhammed Bin Nasser Al Mohanan gave a speech at the ceremony and pointed out that they were willing to further develop the cooperation between Turkey and Qatar regarding the naval platforms, underlining that the attack craft delivered would provide additional strength to the Qatari Naval Forces for the protection of economic and controlled seas.
In his speech, Yonca-Onuk Chairman of the Board Şakir Yılmaztürk underlined that the name of the delivered craft “THAT ASSUARY” fell into place as it was the first naval victory of an Islamic navy and stated that they attached special importance to this name. Yılmaztürk mentioned that Yonca-Onuk has been conducting 3 MRTP16 and 3 MRTP34 attack craft projects with the Qatari Naval Forces and that they desired to develop their cooperation, “This successful project is a demonstrator of the high-level cooperation between Turkey and our friend Qatar Emirates with the delivery of technological and new generation platforms”.
Undersecretary for Defence Industries Mr. Murad Bayar reminded the participants of the fact that the greatest project besides the mini unmanned aerial vehicle, helicopter simulator and remote controlled artillery systems within the scope of the cooperation protocol signed between Turkey and Qatar is the Yonca-Onuk attack crafts. Murad Bayar expressed that as Turkey they were proud to witness the delivery of the second phase of the project and added that they hoped to launch new cooperation deals at the Maritime and Defence Fair that will take place on 24-26 March 2014 in Qatar.
Yonca-Onuk MRTP 34 fast patrol/attack craft with composite structure developed by Yonca-Onuk has been designed superior to the ordinary attack crafts of 50-300 tons. The craft has a speed of over 42 knots, 36,80 overall length and it has the capacity to operate without getting any logistic support for three days with a personnel capacity of 21 persons. The craft has been named after the first Islamic naval victory THAT ASSUARY (Q-31) by the Navy of Qatar Emirates.
Among Yonca-Onuk attack crafts, three MRTP16 fast intervention boats’ delivery has been accomplished within the scope of the protocol signed with the Qatar Emirates. In line with the same agreement, with the delivery of THAT ASSUARY, the delivery of three MRTP attack crafts started. The remaining 2 attack crafts will be delivered in 2014 with four-month intervals. The “Muhafız” 30mm Stabilized Naval Gun System developed by Aselsan is installed over Yonca-Onuk MRTP 34.
Muhafız 30MM Stabilized Naval Gun System
Muhafız 30mm Stabilized Naval Gun System is considered as a new member of Aselsan’s Remote Controlled Gun Systems family developed in order to be used in combat vessels, patrol boats, coast guard boats and assault crafts. Muhafız System is capable of dual ammunition feed and two different types of ammunition could be used simultaneously.
Compared with the 25mm STOP system developed previously by Aselsan, this new system has an integrated electro-optical vision system composed of Thermal Camera, Day Vision Camera and Laser Distant Finder and has independent maneuvering and stabilization capacity at rear and elevation axis. This electro-optical vision system namely the Sensitive Stabilized Router (HSY) guarantees that the target remains within sight even during the ballistic correction applied to the gun for making accurate long-ranged shootings. This HSY allows target acquisition and environment surveillance without directing the cannon towards the target.
In Muhafız System, optical vision and weapon target line have been stabilized separately in order to enable stabilization over the target without getting effected by the moves of the platform on which the system is installed upon. Muhafız System enables the automatic acquisition, surveillance of and shooting at targets during night and bad weather conditions. System has the capacity for automatic target surveillance and ballistic calculation and allows its user to achieve direct shootings even when the platform it’s mounted upon is unstable or the target moved. This system could be used practically from remote areas owing to its ergonomic Command Unit. As the system could be commanded remotely, the shooter could be able to use the weapon effectively without getting effected by the counter-fire. For safe and secure usage the system features identification of shooting/operation restricted areas. All data required for the practical and effective utilization of the system such as the data of the turret rear and elevation axis angles, vision angles of electro-optic units, remaining number of bullets, data of system’s operation mode, breakdown/alert symbols are displayed on the LCD monitor of the command unit.
First Muhafız System developed for Qatari Navy has been integrated to the MRTP34 boat manufactured by Yonca-Onuk Shipyard and firing acceptance tests have been accomplished successfully in December 2013 at the Black Sea. System reached the aimed maximum shooting performance at the shooting tests realized in severe weather conditions. MRTP34 boat received full marks from the acceptance delegation of Qatari Naval Forces with the stabilization, target surveillance and direct shooting performance tests accomplished in a speed of 0-40 knots speed.
