VEHICLE REVIEW | U-MAV – Modular unmanned amphibious craft capable of beach landing in hostile areas

Turkish defence manufacturer FNSS has developed U-MAV, a new type of multi-purpose, modular unmanned amphibious vehicle.

The 5.4-metre (18-foot) vehicle is intended to move ahead of marine infantry mounted in FNSS's manned marine assault vehicles (MAVs). It is designed to make first contact with coastal defences, neutralise mines and obstacles according to its payload, prepare the beach for the MAV landing, and support later phases of the operation.

“U-MAV is an independent tesearch and development project carried out by FNSS with its own resources; there is no specific customer or owner requirement behind it,” MAV Program Manager Göktuğ Burak Çalık told Baird Maritime.

“The design was driven by FNSS’s own assessment of the needs of amphibious forces, namely an unmanned element that can take on the highest-risk tasks of an amphibious assault so that the operators can remain safely on board the ship.”

According to Çalık, the design adapted FNSS's MAV experience and its unmanned control and software capabilities to a modular platform. He said construction met no significant challenges because it used the established processes, facilities and supply chain of the company's other amphibious vehicles.

"The lessons that can be applied to future builds will become clearer once the serial production process begins," he said.

Payload modules can be exchanged on the base platform in the field in approximately 40 minutes. This gives ten configurations: fire support; mine clearance; combat engineering; electronic warfare (EW); reconnaissance; tactical deception; counter-drone; navigation and marking; logistics support; and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC).

Variants of the U-MAV can operate together, sharing a common platform and resupply infrastructure.

Multi-role capability coupled with a range of deployment options

U-MAV works across the littoral zone, from sea to shore and inland. It can be launched from landing helicopter docks, tank landing ships, the Turkish Navy’s YLCT landing craft. and even civilian ships.

During beach preparation, the reconnaissance variant maps defensive positions, obstacles and minefields with thermal and optical sensors and a mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It passes the data over an encrypted mesh network.

Engineering and mine clearance variants remove concrete obstacles, dragon's teeth and wire with an excavator arm and dozer blade. They find and destroy mines with ground-penetrating radar, a mechanical detonation device, and explosive line charges.

The EW variant jams command radio nets and anti-tank guided missile guidance frequencies with a wideband jammer.

“As the main landing wave approaches the beach, the fire support variant neutralises high-value targets with a combination of heavy machine gun, automatic cannon and loitering munitions, and lays smoke screens to protect the MAVs from enemy observation,” said Çalık.

“The navigation and marking variant visually marks the cleared boat lanes for MAV drivers using an infrared beacon, laser spot marker and floating dye system, and sends route data to the command-and-control centre. The counter-drone variant detects enemy first-person view and kamikaze UAVs through optical and radar sensor fusion and protects the force with a soft-kill electronic jammer or a hard-kill effector.”

Once the beachhead is secured, logistics variants carry ammunition, medical supplies and power support forward in waterproof containers holding approximately 400 kg (880 lb). The CASEVAC variant will then remove casualties, if any.

Eight smoke grenade launchers are standard. The mast, mission tower, antennas, and sensors such as lidar vary by variant.

"With autonomous, remote-controlled or mixed control modes, the operators remain safely on board the ship throughout the mission, reducing the risk of casualties to zero compared with conventional advance force elements," Çalık told Baird Maritime.

Improved adaptability to various types of rough terrain

A 224kW (300hp) diesel powerpack and fully automatic transmission drive a permanent 4x4 driveline with differential and axle locks.

At the eight-tonne amphibious combat weight, this gives 37.5 hp (28 kW) per tonne, which FNSS said sustains performance from the wet sand line onto hard ground.

The running gear comprises independent double-wishbone suspension, hydraulically assisted electrically controlled steering, and dual-circuit air-assisted hydraulic brakes with remote control. Run-flat tyres and central tyre inflation are fitted, with selectable tyre options. Maximum speeds are 70 km/h (40 mph) on roads and up to seven knots in the water, depending on the variant.

The vehicle climbs 70 per cent gradients and handles 40 per cent side slopes. It also crosses 0.4-metre (1.3-foot) obstacles and one-metre (3.3-foot) trenches. Çalık said the propulsion relies on conventional solutions chosen for reliability and ease of support.

Full positioning and detection sensor suite

“An encrypted mesh network infrastructure, a GNSS/INS navigation system, and an IFF module work together to maintain the platform’s command-and-control continuity throughout the operation,” said Çalık. “The inertial navigation unit continues to compute a position estimate where satellite signals are lost or degraded. The communication range is three kilometres (1.9 miles) line-of-sight, extended on all variants by UAV relay support.

"In the event of a data link loss, the platform first enters a safe stop state and then, depending on configuration, automatically returns to its base via a recorded route or continues its navigation task."

Onboard AI image processing transmits detection data rather than video. It presents prioritised, colour-coded and time-stamped targets to the operator, and new target types defined in the field apply immediately. Remote firing, 360-degree situational awareness and a 24V electrical system are standard.

“Discussions with both domestic and international customers are ongoing, and there is a strong possibility that agreements will be reached in the near term, enabling U-MAV to transition into serial production,” Çalık told Baird Maritime.