Türkiye’s defense industry continues to expand its dominance in unmanned systems with another major milestone — the successful firing trials of the SANCAR Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV). Developed in cooperation between HAVELSAN and YONCA-Onuk Shipyard, SANCAR demonstrated its operational maturity and precision strike capabilities during tests held in the Marmara Sea. The platform performed live-fire missions using a 12.7mm Stabilized Weapon System fully integrated with HAVELSAN’s ADVENT ROTA, an adaptation of the ADVENT Combat Management System (CMS) for unmanned maritime operations.

The tests were observed by senior officials from the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and the Turkish Naval Forces Command, marking a significant achievement in Türkiye’s autonomous naval technology roadmap. SANCAR distinguished itself as the first and only USV fully integrated into the ADVENT ecosystem, ensuring seamless interoperability with other naval platforms within the fleet. The system’s capabilities in engagement, mine detection, and autonomous mission execution confirmed its readiness for real-world deployment.

The ADVENT ROTA variant, specifically engineered for unmanned systems, was operationally deployed for the first time aboard SANCAR. This step represents a critical threshold for network-centric naval warfare, enabling autonomous platforms to share tactical data, receive commands, and synchronize with manned ships and coastal command centers. The integration allows SANCAR to participate in reconnaissance, port and base protection, mine countermeasure support, and asymmetric threat response missions as part of a unified command network.

HAVELSAN General Manager Mehmet Akif Nacar highlighted that SANCAR is the first member of the company’s Unmanned Surface Vehicle Product Family and that it will soon enter service with the Turkish Navy. Nacar emphasized that the project’s design, development, and testing phases reflect Türkiye’s determination to lead in autonomous maritime systems. He added that HAVELSAN aims to further expand its USV product range and strengthen its presence in both domestic and international defense markets.

With its autonomous command architecture, high engagement accuracy, and integration with the ADVENT network, SANCAR stands as a cornerstone of the future digital battlefield at sea — reaffirming Türkiye’s growing influence in global naval defense technologies.