The Coastal Control Station of “ULAQ”- Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle Completed
In cooperation with ARES Shipyard and Meteksan Defence, Turkey’s first unique Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle ULAQ AUSV, which was officially initiated by the parties in 2018, reached a new milestone on the 14th of April.
The Coastal Control Station (CCS) of ULAQ was completed and launched for sea trials in January 2020.
Designed as a minivan, the CCS includes a captain and a gunner console. While the management of ULAQ is provided through the captain's console, the control and monitoring of the missile systems, which are located on ULAQ as a payload, is provided via the gunner console. Designed and equipped to provide 24/7 service with life and system support equipment such as power distribution units, lighting and air conditioning, the CCS’s architecture enables quick installation, easy to use and user-friendly interfaces and supports the entire ULAQ product family with its modular structure and provisions.
Providing bidirectional data transfer with ULAQ through Line of Sight (LOS) and Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS-SATCOM) data links, the CCS has an instant communication feature with platforms and command control centers over KEMENT and TAFICS interfaces and has a network-enabled operational infrastructure. The AKSON Data Link, developed by Meteksan Defence for unmanned and manned reconnaissance and surveillance air platforms, with a data transmission range of more than 200 km, will enable joint operations with UAVs.
The task planning and tracking function in the CCS enables the preparation of the mission plan before and/or during the mission by analyzing the information received from other units such as AIS, meteorology, depending on the features of the ULAQ, task type and the place of duty. Vehicle control and payload control functions offer significant convenience for operator use with remote control, semi-autonomous and fully autonomous modes.
Currently, the design and production of CCS equipment has been completed, and in the light of the data received from the ULAQ, which is undergoing sea trials, the software provides autonomous operation capability, including cruising and evasive maneuvers, and featured with artificial intelligence, and has reached the finalization stage.
ULAQ Main Features
The UCSV can be operated from mobile ground control stations, military headquarters, and command centers or naval platforms such as aircraft carriers and frigates to carry out different missions such as Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Intelligence, Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), Asymmetric Warfare, Armed Escort & Force Protection, and Strategic Facility Security. The project started in 2018, and research and concept studies were carried out between 2018-2019. In 2019, the prototype production process was started with local capabilities, and prototype design activities were completed in the first quarter of 2020. Production of the first prototype started in June 2020. The design studies of the prototype boat were finalized in August. Its structural production has been completed and first prototype launched in December 2020, following the outfitting activities. After the completion of sea trials, the first firing tests of the ULAQ prototype are expected to be carried out in this year with 4 CIRIT and 2 L-UMTAS missile systems provided by the national missile systems manufacturer Roketsan.
