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

“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.