Three warships – one frigate and two supply ships – and one uncrewed surface vessel were commissioned into the Turkish Navy on 19 January 2024. The commissioning ceremony was held at Sefine Shipyard in Yalova, where the largest vessels, TCG Derya, and the smallest one, Marlin USV were constructed.
With the commissioning of the USV, the Turkish Navy entered officially into the age of uncrewed surface vessels. The USVs are an opportunity. They open new dimensions and new operational capabilities in front of the naval forces. As it is always the case innovations also bring new problems and challenges.
One of the highlighted challenges is related to the classification of USVs: Are they to be considered vessels, ammunition, or equipment?
This classification becomes particularly significant in the event of maritime collisions or similar incidents, raising questions about how these autonomous or remotely operated vessels should be treated legally and operationally.
The Marlin USV is named TCB 1101 by the Turkish Navy forces. The abbreviation TCB means Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Bahriyesi Turkish Republic Navy in English. The Turkish warships have like warships in many other navies a prefix. And that is: TCG meaning Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Gemisi, Turkish Republic Ship.
Thus by assigning the prefix TCB to the USV the Turkish Navy indicates that it is considering the USV as equipment and not a ship. Other items with TCB prefix are airplanes, helicopters and remotely operated underwater vehicles.
The USV is 15 meters long and 3,85 meters wide. It has an endurance of 72 hours and 400 nautical miles range. The two diesel engines propel the vessel up to 35 knots. It is armed with one 12.7mm RCWS.
In its current configuration, the Marlin USV is optimised for electronic warfare. It has one ARES 2NC ESM system and one AREAS 2NC ECM system as payload.
This vessel participated in REPMUS 22 and Dynamic Messenger 22 exercises organized by NATO and held at the Maritime Operational Experimentation Center (CEOM) in Troia, Portugal.
According to Aselsan, the Marlin USV stands out as an Unmanned Surface Vehicle, boasting advanced autonomous capabilities that cater to a diverse range of maritime operations. Marlin is also well-suited for amphibious operations, specifically developed for applications in surface and electronic warfare, reconnaissance and surveillance, as well as security for bases, ports, and critical ship facilities. Its design, characterized by modularity, enables seamless integration of various payload configurations, enhancing its adaptability to different mission requirements.
Equipped with cutting-edge communication and positioning systems, Marlin USV is capable of uninterrupted operation even in the face of signal jamming. The following are some of its key features:
The Marlin USV incorporates a dynamic positioning system, an active stabilization system, the KARETTA Anti-Jam GNSS, and an auxiliary power unit. It also features Radar and AIS (Automatic Identification System), an obstacle avoidance sonar, and the ANS510-D INS.
In terms of communication capabilities, Marlin USV offers a broadband satellite communication system, a narrowband satellite communication system, RF communication, and 4G / LTE communication.
The autonomy features of Marlin USV further enhance its operational efficiency, including autonomous mission planning and task distribution, sensor fusion for comprehensive data integration, fixed and moving obstacle detection, dynamic path planning, and the ability for day/night autonomous operation. It can seamlessly execute joint operations with other unmanned systems and maintain autonomous capabilities even in the face of interruptions in GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and communication.
As we reflect on the recent commissioning of the Marlin Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) into the Turkish Navy, it becomes evident that this event signifies a noteworthy step into a new era of maritime capabilities. This isn’t just about innovation; it’s a reflection of how the Turkish Navy is redefining effectiveness and strategy on the high seas
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