Turkey Demonstrates Swarm Attack Capabilities of ALBATROS-S Kamikaze USVs in a Joint USV-UAV Operation
The Turkish defense company Aselsan’s kamikaze unmanned surface vehicle Albatros-S passed a successful test near Mersin. During the test, Albatros, which is capable of moving in swarms of eight, attacked the target ship detected by a Bayraktar TB2 drone. One of the swarm’s Albatros Kamikaze USVs, equipped with munitions produced by ROKETSAN, struck the target ship and detonated. The 22-meter target ship was submerged within minutes as a result of the successful test.
According to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, “a Bayraktar TB2 UAV belonging to our Naval Forces Command also participated in the test. Unmanned surface vehicles were directed to a target determined by a Bayraktar TB2 within the scope of the scenario. The USV swarm kamikaze attack concept was thus demonstrated for the first time in the world with this USV-UAV joint operation.” The announcement continued “The test off the coast of Mersin was closely monitored by Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, President of the Defense Industry Agency Haluk Görgün, ASELSAN General Manager Ahmet Akyol, and other officials at the Naval Forces Command Headquarters. To avoid harming the environment, the target ship was washed and cleaned of contaminants such as fuel and oil prior to the test.”
The ALBATROS-S is an unmanned surface vehicle swarm system with a high level of autonomy that can navigate and perform tasks in a swarm formation without the need for centralized control. ALBATROS-S, which can utilize various navigational formations, can continue its mission despite a decrease in swarm units by avoiding swarm elements and moving or immobile obstacles.
The assigned mission can be shared autonomously among swarm elements with ALBATROS-S, and the mission can be terminated autonomously with various maneuvers. ALBATROS-S, in addition to being fully autonomous, can also perform semi-autonomous and remote-controlled tasks with an operator.
ALBATROS-S’s capabilities allow it to be employed for missions such as reconnaissance and surveillance, engaging single or multiple targets, patrolling, and base/port defense. These vehicles, weighing 1,955kg, are designed so that they can be transported to their place of duty under their own power, or they can be transported by cargo planes, military ships, or by road. The naval vessel, which has a low radar and infrared cross-section, is 7 meters long and 2 meters wide. The system, propelled by a stern inboard diesel engine, has a cruising range of more than 200 nautical miles and a top speed of more than 40 knots. ALBATROS-S can also carry out a 10-hour mission with a payload weighing up to 250kg.