STM has debuted its NETA 300 and NETA 1000 UUVs with a ceremony in the SAHA EXPO 2024 exhibition.
The NETA family, with two variants in different sizes depending on payload and endurance requirements, will provide underwater observation capabilities to both the military and civilian sectors.
The first variant to be introduced, NETA 300, is capable of diving up to 300 meters deep and carries side-scan and gap-filling sonars for underwater surveillance against mines. Additionally, the Synthetic Aperture Sonar will allow NETA 300 to perform mapping of undersea environments. Depending on the configuration, NETA 300 weighs 70 to 85 kg, and the onboard batteries provide an endurance of 24 hours.
The UUV is planned to begin service with mine detection and destruction missions, likely being deployed from the Turkish Navy’s mine-hunting ships.
Due to its larger size, the NETA 1000 to follow is capable of greater depths and endurance. The maximum weight of NETA 1000 has been listed as 360 kg, and the endurance as 32 to 55 hours, depending on battery configuration.
STM CEO Özgür Güleryüz has noted that the NETA family will expand towards larger platforms:
“We will also develop medium-sized and larger unmanned underwater vehicles that can operate at deeper depths and on different missions. Thus, we foresee providing solutions to operational needs in line with all the usage concepts required by the Turkish Armed Forces. We believe the STM NETA family will actively contribute to protecting the depths of the Blue Homeland, offering a strong deterrent effect. At the same time, we will have created a product family with high export potential among friendly and allied nations.”
