IDEF 2023: Unirobotics remote weapon stations to be fitted on Turkish …

Unirobotics' Trakon Targan RWS on display at IDEF 2023. (Janes/Prathamesh Karle)

Turkey-based Unirobotics' remote weapon stations (RWSs) will be integrated on the Turkish navy's offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and unmanned surface vessels (USVs), Unirobotics board member Cem Kurter confirmed to Janes at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held in Istanbul.

Among the RWSs displayed by Unirobotics at IDEF 2023, the Trakon Targan, developed in partnership with Havelsan, will be integrated on the Hisar-class OPVs under construction at Istanbul Naval Shipyard for the Turkish navy.

Targan is designed for naval platforms to protect against air and surface targets. It is armed with the CANiK M2 QCB 12.7 mm heavy machine gun (HMG). Targan can also be equipped with an Mk-19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.

The RWS is compatible with Havelsan's Advent combat management system and can be controlled via its own operator console. It features an electro-optical (EO) system integrated on an independently stabilised gimbal. The EO has an elevation axis of -15°/+55° and an azimuth axis of -20°/+20° without aiming the gun.

Unirobotics' Trakon Lite RWS, which was also on display at IDEF, will be integrated on Dearsan Shipyard's Salvo USV, O Barbaros Okan, Dearsan business development manager, told Janes . Negotiations between Dearsan and Unirobotics commenced in 2022 and the contract for the integration was signed two months ago, Okan added.

The Trakon Lite RWS is armed with the CANiK 12.7 mm HMG. It is designed as a lightweight and cost-effective RWS. The entire system including the gun weighs around 148 kg.