Two Turkish unmanned surface vessels (USVs) fired lightweight torpedoes for the first time during a recent sea trial, the country’s defense agency has announced.
In a video uploaded on social media, the armed USVs Marlin and MIR were seen sailing at high speed before stopping to launch what appeared to be recoverable exercise torpedoes (REXTORP).
Ülkemizde ilk kez insansız deniz aracından torpido atışı gerçekleştirildi. Denizaltı savunma harbi için geliştirilen MİR İDA'dan yerli torpido kovanıyla yapılan hafif torpido atışıyla sualtı harbine yönelik yeni kabiliyetler için bir eşiği daha geçtik.👏@aselsan @sefineofficial pic.twitter.com/MwGDSpHqvr
— İsmail Demir (@profismaildemir) April 18, 2023
The event demonstrated the two state-of-the-art ships’ anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
It also allowed the Turkish Defence Agency to test the fixed-mount torpedo launcher developed by local firm Aselsan.
Apart from REXTORP, the USVs can launch NATO-standard torpedoes such as the Mk44, Mk46, Mk54, and soon the ORKA lightweight torpedo from Roketsan.
The MIR and Marlin USVs
The MIR was unveiled to the public in 2022.
It features “more than the usual” sensors, suggesting it would assume control over other USVs in a swarm.
It is also reportedly equipped with variable depth sonar to meet endurance, sea state, and maneuverability requirements for anti-submarine warfare.
The MIR can travel at 36 knots (66 kilometers/41 miles per hour) and operate under sea state 4 with moderate waves.
The Marlin is described as one of the most capable USVs to date due to its improved size, payload capacity, and configuration adaptability.
The 15-meter (49-foot) unmanned vessel is also equipped with high-performance jammers for electronic warfare.
