Turkish-built AUSV completes live-firing tests in Marmara Sea

September 16, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

The SANCAR armed unmanned surface vehicle (AUSV), developed jointly by Havelsan and Yonca Shipyard, has completed live-fire trials in the Marmara Sea.

The tests were carried out in the presence of representatives from the Turkish Naval Forces Command and confirmed the AUSV’s ability to accurately engage targets using its 12.7 mm stabilized weapon system.

The system was fully integrated with ADVENT ROTA, a mission system adapted from Havelsan’s ADVENT combat management system and specifically developed for unmanned platforms.

Havelsan enhances ADVENT CMS with AI technology

Equipment & technology

The vehicle comes equipped with advanced sensors, including navigation radar, AIS, electro-optical cameras, sonar, and 360° surveillance. Current and planned payloads include:

Sonar and mine countermeasure systems for subsurface threats;
12.7 mm remote-controlled weapon system (validated in live-fire trials);
Guided missile payloads for deterrence.

According to Havelsan, this architecture ensures interoperability with the Turkish Naval Forces’ inventory and allows manned and unmanned assets to operate in coordination.

SANCAR, which is 12.7 meters long and with a beam of 3.3. meters, is capable of performing:

Base and port protection;
Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR);
Mine countermeasures;
Search and rescue (SAR).

The trials demonstrated capabilities such as task handover, swarm operations, and coordinated strikes, making SANCAR the first operational example of network-centric warfare conducted with an unmanned naval platform.

A few months ago, Havelsan signed an agreement with the Chilean Navy to provide its ADVENT CMS for the modernization of the frigates. The project is scheduled to be completed within four years.