Meteksan, a prominent Turkish defense company, has recently signed a deal to export its ULAQ 11 unmanned surface vessel (USV) to Qatar, highlighting a significant trend toward increasing demand for unmanned maritime technology globally. Selçuk Kerem Alparslan, Vice Chairman of the Board at Meteksan, emphasized this growing interest during an interview with Breaking Defense.
The agreement with the Qatari Coast Guard marks a milestone for Turkey, as the ULAQ 11, which measures 11 meters in length, was developed in collaboration with ARES Shipyard. Alparslan explained that the contract will unfold in two phases: the first involves a 12-month training program, which has already commenced, following the delivery of the initial vessel during the Milipol conference.
“The second phase pertains to the procurement of ULAQ 11 Port Security Vessels (PSV) and the accompanying command-control infrastructure,” Alparslan stated. This move aims to equip Qatar’s Coast Guard with advanced unmanned technology capabilities.
The ULAQ 11 PSV is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations to safeguard critical infrastructure but is also adaptable for law enforcement, immediate response, and search and rescue missions. The vessel boasts a 12.7 mm automatic weapon system, radar and electro-optical components, encrypted communications, a command and control station, and autonomy software. It can operate up to 400 miles, using various linking modalities, including line-of-sight and satellite communications.
Although Alparslan did not disclose the financial details or exact number of vessels involved in the contract, he noted that the ULAQ systems have been rigorously tested with Qatari officials in Turkey to meet specific requirements.
Alparslan also expressed motivation for future developments, indicating that Meteksan aims to introduce new versions and platforms with various payloads for specialized missions. He highlighted a growing interest in employing unmanned systems as missile-like instruments and utilizing swarming capabilities, which could enhance naval defense capabilities.
The export deal aligns with the broader success of the Turkish defense sector, which reported a notable increase in export revenues, reaching $820 million in October—an impressive 61 percent rise compared to the previous year, as stated by Haluk Gorgun, the secretary of Turkish defense industries. Meteksan is particularly focused on Gulf nations as potential future markets for its expanding unmanned maritime technologies.
