Turkish defense firm STM has introduced its new unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), the STM NETA 300, to enhance the country’s sea operations capabilities.
The NETA platform can dive to a depth of 300 meters (984 feet) and is currently undergoing sea testing.
“The first deployment of STM NETA 300 will be for mine detection and destruction missions,” STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz said in a statement during the SAHA expo in Istanbul.
The company plans to develop additional UUVs for deeper underwater operations, including intelligence gathering, anti-submarine warfare, explosive ordnance disposal, pipeline inspection, and geophysical surveillance.
Features
With a compact modular design and a weight of 70 kilograms (154 pounds), the NETA 300 can be easily transported by two people.
The UUV reaches a maximum speed of 5 knots (9 kilometers/5 miles per hour) and can operate for up to 24 hours on a single battery charge.
It features side-scan radar and gap-filling sonar, providing highly accurate data to support the detection of targets, as well as the identification of mines and mine-like objects.
The vehicle also integrates synthetic aperture sonar for high-resolution scanning for military applications and civil rescue operations.
STM’s Recent Export Projects
Güleryüz stated that while the platform was developed to meet requirements for the Turkish armed forces, it also has “high export potential among friendly and allied nations.”
In June, the Malaysian Navy contracted the Turkish firm to build three warships, expected to be completed within 3.5 years.
In 2023, the NATO Communications and Information Agency awarded STM a contract to modernize its intelligence infrastructure.