IDEF 2025: multiple USVs make an appearance in Istanbul

While many shipyards presented their uncrewed surface vessel (USV) concepts as scale models at the IDEF 2025 defence exhibition, held in Istanbul from 22 to 27 July, four full-scale platforms were displayed at Istanbul’s Ataköy Marina exhibition area.

Two of the showcased vessels were Marlin USVs, jointly developed by Sefine Shipyard and Aselsan. One of these has already been commissioned by the Turkish Navy as of January 2024. At IDEF 2025 one Marlin variant represented an anti-surface warfare (ASuW) configuration, equipped with two Roketsan-manufactured Çakır anti-ship missiles and a Unirobotics Trakon 30 remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS).

The Çakır missile is guided by an imaging infrared seeker and features a range of up to 150 km. It employs a combination of mid-phase guidance systems – including inertial navigation, anti-jam GNSS, radar altimeter, barometric altimeter and terrain-referenced navigation – as well as terminal-phase guidance through a hybrid imaging infrared and radio frequency (IIR+RF) seeker and a bidirectional, network-based datalink.

The other weapon on board, the Trakon 30 RCWS, is armed with a 30 mm Venom gun, which is compatible with ADEN, DEFA and M230-type ammunition and has a firing rate fire of up to 1,300 rounds per minute. According to Unirobotics, testing in 2025 with US-made M789/M788 rounds resulted in an even higher rate of fire. The turret weighs approximately 500 kg without ammunition, which is stored in a 150-round magazine.

A variant of the Trakon RCWS fitted with a 12.7 mm machine gun is already deployed aboard the Turkish Navy’s first two Hisar-class offshore patrol vessels.

A second Marlin variant represented an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) configuration fitted with two sonar systems developed by Armelsan. The primary system is a USV-adapted version of the Orkun 2053 dipping sonar, operating in the 3–5 kHz range with an operational depth of 350 m, with all signal processing occurs onboard the USV. Complementing this is the ARAS 2023 diver detection sonar, operating at a central frequency of 70 kHz. This can detect divers using both open- and closed-circuit breathing apparatus at distances up to 1,000 m and underwater vehicles up to 1,500 m.

Both Marlin configurations are operated via mobile, containerised command centres developed by Aselsan and Sefine. A single control module can simultaneously manage up to 12 USVs, enabling co-ordinated swarm operations. These modules can be deployed ashore or embarked aboard larger naval platforms.

The third vessel on display was the Ulaq USV developed by ARES Shipyard and Meteksan Defense. During IDEF 2025 the formation was announced of Ulaq Global: a new venture that will be both platform- and weapon-agnostic, offering configurations based on user-defined requirements.

Measuring 12 m in length with a beam of 3.74 m and a draught of 0.85 m, the Ulaq USV is powered by twin 460 hp diesel engines supplied by Tümosan. It employs waterjet propulsion for high manoeuvrability, has a 65 km/h top speed suitable for rapid coastal operations and a range of 400 km. The USV’s armament includes a Best RCWS with a 12.7 mm machine gun and a 500-round magazine, but it can also be equipped with Roketsan L-UMTAS and Cirit missiles.

The fourth platform was the Sancar USV, jointly developed by Havelsan and Yonca-Onuk Shipyard. Designed for mine countermeasures (MCM) operations, the Sancar is equipped with a Klein Marine Systems sidescan sonar optimised for mine and underwater obstacle detection.

The Sancar integrates with the Turkish Navy’s ADVENT SYS command-and-control system, allowing direct operation from larger naval vessels without the need for additional control stations. Built on the MRTP 12 hull, the vessel measures 12.7 m in length with a beam of 3.3 m and a draught of 0.9 m. Propelled by two 480 hp engines, it can exceed speeds of 40 kts (74 km/h) and has a range of 400 nautical miles (741 km).

For self-defence the Sancar USV is fitted with an Aselsan STAMP-L RCWS featuring a 12.7 mm machine gun. The Sancar offers both line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight control options, increasing operational flexibility across a range of mission profiles.