Turkey unveils armed unmanned surface vessel prototype

ANTALYA, Turkey

Turkey on Tuesday showcased the prototype of its first armed unmanned surface vessel.

Utku Alanc, the CEO of Ares Shipyard, which developed the vessel, dubbed SIDA, along with the Ankara-based Meteksan Defense said the watercraft is due to set sail later this month.

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The first armed unmanned watercraft (SIDA), made in Turkey, ready for the naval mission

ANTALYA, TURKEY - DECEMBER 14: Turkey's first armed unmanned surface vessel (SIDA), which is the first product of the ULAQ series developed by Ares Shipyard and Meteksan Defense System, is seen after its completion of the prototype in Antalya, Turkey on December 14, 2020. ( Mustafa Çiftçi - Anadolu Agency )

Later in March, firing tests will be conducted with guided missiles manufactured by Turkish rocket maker Roketsan, Alanc told Anadolu Agency.

SIDA, the first in Ares and Meteksan's ULAQ unmanned vessel series, boasts a cruising range of 400 kilometers (249 miles) and maximum speed of 65 km (40 mi) per hour, as well as indigenous encrypted communications, and day and night vision capabilities.

It was designed primarily to be deployed in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, Alanc said, adding that the vessel could also serve in intelligence-gathering missions.

On the other hand, Erdal Torun, the vice president of Meteksan Defense, said it also featured a command and control system that allowed for all its movements to be remotely controlled and managed.

"SIDA was produced to be resistant to electronic warfare. This platform will also be fitted with anti-GPS jamming systems," he added.

Roketsan was founded in 1988 to design, develop and manufacture rockets and missiles.

* Writing by Yunus Girgin in Ankara