site.btaTurkish Mine Clearance Device Attracts Interest of Several Countries

Several foreign countries, including Bulgaria, have expressed interest in a Turkish-made remote-controlled sea mine clearance device, the Anatolian News Agency reported Wednesday. The foreign demand began after an international exercise in the Black Sea in June in which the device was used.

The remotely controlled device was developed at the Balikesir University Technology Development Area.

While under normal conditions the destruction process is carried out by running a cable to the site where the explosives are placed, the new device allows using the developed remote-controlled blasting device (USAS), with which the mine is destroyed by sending an encrypted signal.

The mine-clearing device, which is already in use in the Turkish Armed Forces, can be operated from a distance of 20 km on land and 8 km at sea in suitable weather conditions. It attracted the attention of a number of foreign countries during the Eurasian Partnership MCM Dive-2023 exercise (June 19-30) in the Western Black Sea, hosted by Romania. Turkiye participated in the maneuvers with a submarine defence team.

The device, which allows personnel to operate more safely, is being produced at a cost of only one tenth compared to its imported counterparts.

"After the NATO exercise, a company in Romania contacted us and requested a quote to supply the Romanian Navy," said Prof. Osman Kalender, founder of KZ Mekatronik, the company that created the device.

In addition to Romania, inquiries for the USAS have come from Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan and Bulgaria.