The eight-ton platform can operate without a crew and swap mission modules in approximately 40 minutes
Turkish armored vehicle manufacturer FNSS has unveiled a new unmanned multi-purpose amphibious vehicle, designated İ-ZAHA or U-MAV, at the Teknofest defense conference.
The four-wheeled platform is designed to remove human crews from the first wave of an amphibious assault, the phase generally considered to involve the highest level of risk. According to FNSS, the vehicle will operate as part of a manned-unmanned teaming configuration alongside Marine Assault Vehicles already in service with the Turkish Naval Forces Command.
Top speed of 70 km/h on land
The İ-ZAHA weighs approximately eight tons and can transition from sea to shore at a naval speed of up to 7 knots. On land, it can reach a top speed of 70 km/h.
FNSS says the platform can perform a range of missions, including:
- fire support with a machine gun;
- mine detection and clearance;
- electronic warfare;
- counter-drone operations;
- reconnaissance and surveillance support.
The vehicle is equipped with a GNSS/INS navigation system, an identification-friend-or-foe module and artificial-intelligence-based image-processing capabilities.
Interchangeable mission modules
One of the U-MAV’s key features is its modular architecture. Mission payloads can be exchanged on the same base platform to meet different operational requirements.
FNSS says a module can be replaced in the field in approximately 40 minutes. The configuration allows the vehicle to be rapidly adapted for support, mine-clearance, electronic-warfare or counter-drone missions without deploying an entirely different platform.
FNSS expands autonomous vehicle development
The company presented İ-ZAHA as the result of combining its experience in developing Marine Assault Vehicles with continued investment in autonomous and unmanned technologies.
“FNSS continues to expand its work and R&D investment in unmanned and autonomous vehicle technologies. U-MAV brings together our engineering capabilities, the field success of the Marine Assault Vehicle and our continuing research and development efforts in a new-generation, heavy-class unmanned amphibious vehicle,” FNSS CEO Selim Baybaş said.
FNSS is a privately owned Turkish defense company fully controlled by Nurol Holding.
