Cem Kurter, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of UNIDEF:
“MWT works as an early warning system thanks to the integrated remote sensing system suites and its current configuration includes a concealed weapon turret as well, ensuring it can work as an interceptor and deterrent.”
UNIDEF has been running various projects on weapon integration and it has achieved significant milestones regarding its Modular Weaponized Trailer (MWT) in 2022. Cem Kurter, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of UNIDEF, has shared the latest developments on MWT for CANiK News readers.
CANiK News: Mr. Kurter, UNIDEF showcased MWT at IDEF 2021 for the first time and continued on development. Can you share some insight on the ongoing efforts on MWT with our readers?
Cem KURTER: We commenced the MWT project in line with the needs of a Turkish end-user. We were tasked to produce a concept for the perimeter security of a forward operating base at the Eastern border of Türkiye. General specifications for this project were also provided. We responded to these specifications and this demand after analyzing the threat profiles in the region, along with geographic challenges, and our solution saw approval. We produced a certain number of systems as per the contract we signed. The field tests for these systems continue. After the tests are completed, we aim to make the final deliveries as soon as possible.
CANiK News: Can you share some details on the usage concept of MWT for border security?
Cem KURTER: MWT’s first generation version was developed in line with the specifications given by our Turkish end-user. However, both Turkish Armed Forces and security forces commenced many operations in the area as well. We have observed that new and different threats were encountered in these operations and responses to these new and different threats must have different tactics, and different tactics did indeed get used.
We have understood that we can provide an effective solution on the security part of these operations through MWT and we have developed the system by adding new capabilities. While it is not appropriate to comment on which threats and adverse events we analyzed, I can safely say our greatest motivation is reducing any risks to life to a minimum.
MWT was designed to respond to two different kinds of security needs: “Securing a border in a given line” and “Providing perimeter security to critical military and civilian infrastructure”. Our main aim in both these missions is providing solutions to replace the personnel deployed in risky areas and security points and thus, ensuring their safety. Our solution consists of mobile armed trailers equipped with high tech remote sensing system packages. We aimed to produce a constantly online security barrier that can overcome tough environmental conditions and reduces or preferably eliminates human error.
MWT: A Completely Integrated System
CANiK News: Can you provide some information on the technical specifications of the MWT?
Cem KURTER: MWT works as an early warning system thanks to the integrated remote sensing system suites. The product’s current configuration includes a concealed weapon turret as well, ensuring it can work as an interceptor and deterrent.
Our trailers can be listed under two classes: “Alpha Trailer” and “Beta Trailer”. These trailers are managed by a command-control centre. Both types come with a folding automatic mast mounted on the towable military chassis. A pan tilt system is housed on the mast, fully compatible with military standards, able to turn a full 360 degrees indefinitely. On one side of the pan-tilt system, there is an electro-optical sensor suite consisting of a cooled thermal camera and a daytime camera, while the other one houses a long distance speaker. On our Alpha Trailers, a surveillance radar is also present. EO sensor suite and speaker system operate in tune with the radar. After the radar informs the control computer about the coordinates where movement is present, the pan-tilt system is automatically directed to these coordinates. If the target is an escalating one, the turret is directed at the target with a single press of a button. After the required warnings are given, the weapon on the turret is fired remotely, after a command by decision makers. As such, the turret is not an autonomous system, it stays under the control of the commander and operator.
Our Beta Trailers, on the other hand, are geared towards working with Alpha Trailers rather than standalone operation.
The radar on the Alpha Trailer can continuously track 200 targets at once. It can control the pan-tilt systems on Beta Trailers by sending them coordinates. We can slave 4 Beta Trailers to a single Alpha, but this number can change with the geographic realities of the field. As our trailers are equipped with inertial navigation systems, they can detect each others’ position very precisely. Controlling Beta Trailers with the Alpha one becomes all the easier with this feature.
The system reduces or completely eliminates the human error in the threat detection and identification processes through the radar, EO suite and warning speaker working in concert, speeding up the decision making processes of the commander or the operator, in addition to making it easier.
CANiK News: What are the weapon systems arming the MWT?
Cem KURTER: We can integrate two different turrets to our MWT. One of them, a foldable concealed turret, was designed with the demands of the end-user as inspiration. This turret can be equipped with 7.62 mm weapons such as M134 minigun and M240.
In United Nations missions and low risk missions, we advise for this turret and 7.62 mm weapons. We can also integrate less lethal solutions to this turret, like multiple tear gas launchers, smoke mortars or systems that use plastic bullets.
The trailer mounting this turret can be also used in missions aimed at perimeter security for petrol refineries, natural gas storage installations, military or civilian ports, military airfields, petrol and gas pipelines, among others.
We have designed our newly developed turret for weapon systems like 12.7 mm machine guns, 40 mm automatic grenade launchers, or 30x113 mm cannons. This turret too can be concealed on the trailer, using a different design. The trailer configuration integrating this turret was designed for high risk battlefields, protection of borders, perimeter security of forward base areas or temporary military infrastructure by neutralizing opposing forces from greater distances.
The newly developed turret also includes an independent EO suit consisting of a cooled thermal camera, laser rangefinder and a day camera. All our turrets come with automatic ballistic calculation and target tracking features as standard.
A Standalone Solution
CANiK News: How do you ensure the system can perform standalone in the field, without requiring any support?
Cem KURTER: Our first prototype included a diesel generator. However, we have observed this approach brought logistic problems in the field. We spent effort on developing solar energy and advanced battery technologies. Currently, our systems are equipped with ultra high efficiency solar panels and lithium iron phosphate battery modules. We are also working on lithium titanium batteries. With these technologies, we are able to provide long term power without requiring a fuel source.
We equipped our trailers with line-of-sight data link antennas that include automatic positioning units. As such, we can command them remotely from a command center 20 km away right now. We also started working on alternative communication technologies like laser communication.
Our systems also offer high mobility. You can move them to anywhere anytime, and redeploy them. They become operational very quickly after deployment.
A command-control center can manage multiple trailers, or you can also manage the system standalone using the standard command-control suitcase.
CANiK News: What kind of cooperation model do you have for the sub-components of MWT?
Cem KURTER: MWT is a complete integration project. It is a project that is fully in line with the founding aims of UNIDEF. Every system on the product has achieved commercial success. We have excellent local suppliers that provide amazing solutions on surveillance radars, pan-tilt systems, EO suites, and masts. As for the turret, we are using a member of TRAKON stabilized weapon turret family from our subsidiary UNIROBOTICS. For 12.7 mm and 30 mm weapons, we are working with our partner, SYS. As such, we have the greatest possible interaction with our defense sector ecosystem and we aim to grow together. This also provides advantages on exports, as we do not need export permits from another country. In other words, we are reducing foreign dependency on exports to a zero.
UNIROBOTICS developed and qualified all the necessary computer hardware and software to ensure all these system work together in accord. We brought together all these systems with a shared wisdom and created a force multiplier with our partners.
UNIDEF proved itself on project management and innovation capabilities by bringing these systems together, and now works for achieving export success for MWT. We think we will accomplish great export successes with this product in 2023. I wish to thank all our solution partners one by one. They worked hard with us, and our export success will be theirs also.
Exports and New Capabilities
CANiK News: What are your target markets for exports?
Cem KURTER: We are working hard to meet the needs of all allied and friendly countries that have border security issues and that may want an easier time for perimeter security for critical infrastructure. In the first phase, we are taking our trailer to another country after receiving an invitation from them, to demonstrate our system in their conditions. In addition, we have set up a demonstration range for the field tests of this trailer in our Samsun facilities. We will invite our potential clients to this range and perform demonstrations for them.
CANiK News: What kind of new features await MWT?
Cem KURTER: We aim to add drone oriented capabilities, including both usage of drones themselves and their jamming and neutralization, in 2023. We plan to use national solutions developed by our defense sector companies for these efforts, and we completely believe these efforts will bear fruit both in Türkiye and abroad.
We would like to thank Cem Kurter, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of UNIDEF for taking the time to answer our questions, and for providing us with such valuable information.
