Ankara: Trkiye's defense industry's unmanned surface vessel (USV) technologies are paving the way for export opportunities to Europe. This development follows Havelsan's collaboration with VN Maritime shipyard to integrate Turkish Rafnar boats with advanced autonomous and remote-controlled mission software.
According to Anadolu Agency, Havelsan has expanded its USV offerings after successfully supplying the Turkish security forces with the Sancar USV, developed in partnership with Yonca shipyard. The latest addition involves equipping Rafnar's boats, which are built with the globally recognized OK hull technology, with autonomous capabilities.
Rafnar boats, known for their resilience in Northern Europe's challenging maritime conditions, are used extensively in civil and security applications. The new partnership will enhance these vessels, enabling them to conduct various critical missions such as fish detection, research tasks, and coastal security operations, either autonomously or with manual operation.
Havelsan's mission software brings continuous communication capabilities to the platform, featuring sensor fusion, route optimization, collision avoidance algorithms, and command and control links. These enhancements will ensure Rafnar boats are well-equipped for both manned and unmanned missions.
In addition to these upgrades, the Rafnar boats will be reconfigured to support dual operational modes. Havelsan will supply radar, LiDAR, electro-optical systems, cameras, and comprehensive platform integration to facilitate this transformation.
Havelsan's journey in the unmanned vessel domain began with the Sancar USV project. The company also offers a locally developed, network-supported, data-integrated combat management system called "Advent."
The collaboration between Havelsan and VN Maritime shipyard will initially target the European market for civilian applications. Future prospects include developing solutions for critical base protection, port security, and military reconnaissance and surveillance missions.