The Turkish Navy has taken a significant step in its naval modernization with the commissioning of SANCAR, the country’s first domestically developed unmanned surface vessel.
The announcement was made by Havelsan, the company responsible for the project, following the successful completion of acceptance tests.
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Last week, SANCAR underwent live-fire trials, proving its ability to hit targets accurately with a remotely controlled 12.7 mm machine gun. The weapon is integrated into the ADVENT ROTA combat management system, enabling manned and unmanned platforms to operate in a coordinated network.
During the trials, the vessel demonstrated task transfer capabilities between platforms and swarm formation operations, as well as successfully carrying out simulated coordinated attacks.
Sensors and operational capabilities
SANCAR is equipped with an advanced suite of sensors, including navigation radar, AIS, electro-optical cameras, sonar, and comprehensive surveillance equipment.
Among the current and future weapons planned for the vessel are:
- Stabilized 12.7 mm machine gun
- Mine countermeasure systems
- Guided missiles
Thanks to this package, SANCAR will be able to perform a wide range of missions, such as:
- Base and port protection
- Tactical reconnaissance
- Mine countermeasure operations
- Search and rescue operations
The development of unmanned vessels is a growing trend among various navies worldwide.
Ukraine, for example, has also heavily invested in this technology and, in 2025, presented the “Ursula” unmanned surface vessel, approximately one meter long, designed for fast and low-cost operations.
Source and images: Havelsan — X @havelsanglobal. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
