On Day 1 of Saha Expo, which takes place at the Istanbul Expo Center in Istanbul, Aselsan unveiled one kamikaze unmanned surface vessel (USV) and the Kiliç family of kamikaze underwater vehicles, showing its increasing presence in the naval scenario
Unmanned naval systems proved their value in Ukraine, damaging several Russian ship. Surface and underwater unmanned systems are being developed in numbers, and the leading electronic company in Turkey, Aselsan, unveiled a family of kamikaze UUVs at the Istanbul exhibition, its two members being named Kiliç, the number showing the maximum range.
Starting from the bigger one, the Kiliç 200 has the typical shape of a submarine, with a cylindrical hull which diameter is 324 mm, the system length being 3,500 mm. EDR On-Line understood that the mass out of water is around 300 kg. The range is 200 nautical miles, as indicated by the name; however standard range is 100 NM, which can be doubled adding a second battery to power the electrical motor, with the propeller ducted aft of the X-shaped stern fins. Maximum speed remains classified. Navigation is ensured by an inertial measuring unit, GNSS receiver, cameras and odometers, which ensure good positioning even in GNSS-denied environments. Visual localisation and target detection exploit AI-based algorithms. Communications are ensured by SATCOM. According to Aselsan the Kiliç 200 is capable of autonomous as well as of swarm operations.
At Saha Expo two versions of the Kiliç 200 were visible. The hull of the first one was made of high density polyethylene, a material allowing mass production. The second was made of composite material, a better solution which however requires longer production times. Both can dive at a maximum depth of 30 metres.
A much smaller system, the Kiliç 10 has an aluminium hull which is 1,200 mm long and has a 280 mm diameter. A one-man portable design, its propulsion is based on four pods with propellers activated by electric motor. Range is obviously 10 NM and here too no data on maximum speed was provided. The comms suite includes satellite, RF and acoustic communications; a collapsible mast allows operating communications without unveiling the vessel, also thanks to a vertical thruster that ensures movements in the vertical plane. Among sensors we find day and thermal cameras as well as a subsea camera. Its navigation system is heavily based on that of the bigger vessel, and it i capable of swarm operations. No details were provided on warheads for both Kiliç.
The Kiliç UUVs are designed to be launched from the land as well as from ships, and are capable to detect, track and neutralise surface and submersed targets. Both models are ready for production.
Photos by P. Valpolini
