Turkey tests its first autonomous underwater reconnaissance drone (video)
Deringöz can be used for reconnaissance and surveillance, mine detection, pipeline inspection, and the protection of ports and naval bases.
On March 11, 2024, the Turkish company Aselsan announced the successful completion of the first underwater tests of the Deringöz (meaning “Deep Eye”) unmanned vehicle, Naval News reports.
The Deringöz autonomous underwater vehicle can be used for various missions, both civilian and military. For example, it can be used for underwater research, reconnaissance and surveillance, mine detection, pipeline inspection, and to protect ports and naval bases. The drone is characterized by a high degree of maneuverability, high-precision navigation capabilities, and optical and sonar imaging technologies.
Aselsan first demonstrated the Deringöz underwater drone at IDEF 2023 in July 2023, and company representatives told Naval News at the time that they plan to conduct the first sea trials next year. Eight months later, in March of this year, Aselsan kept its promise and conducted tests.
The autonomous submarine is expected to play a crucial role in the underwater operations of the Turkish Navy. The drone is capable of operating at a depth of 600 meters, has a modular system architecture, and wireless communication capabilities. The vehicle also has payload configurations that can be expanded according to needs. The maximum speed of the drone reaches 5.5 knots (10.1 km/h), and the scanning speed is 3 knots (5.5 km/h).
