Turkish firm FNSS is aiming to protect crews from the most dangerous phase of amphibious assaults with the İ-ZAHA multi-purpose unmanned modular amphibious vehicle (U-MAV).
Weighing 8 tons (7,257 kilograms), the U-MAV reaches speeds of up to 7 knots (13 kilometers/8 miles per hour) in water and 70 kilometers (44 miles) per hour on land.
The vehicle can shift to 10 different mission configurations through interchangeable payload modules that can be replaced in the field in roughly 40 minutes.
It includes fire support, mine clearance, combat engineering, electronic warfare, reconnaissance, deception, counter-drone, navigation and obstacle marking, logistics, and evacuation.
Powered by a combined 300-horsepower powerpack, it also incorporates an independent suspension system and selectable tire options to handle a range of ground conditions.
The İ-ZAHA can be moved by road, rail, or sea using standard military transport assets to support deployment across different areas.
Strengthening Turkey’s MUM-T Ops
FNSS plans for İ-ZAHA to work in tandem with Turkish Naval Forces Command’s Marine Assault Vehicles (MAV) through manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operations.
The İ-ZAHA’s main role is to establish initial engagement with adversary coastal defenses, including neutralizing mines and obstacles before the MAV moves in.
By leveraging its modular architecture, the U-MAV extends its utility into subsequent operational phases, including the assault, follow-on support, seizure, and securing of the beachhead.
“FNSS continues to grow its work and its research and development (R&D) investment in unmanned and autonomous vehicle technologies,” said Selim Baybaş, chief executive officer and board member of FNSS.
“U-MAV brings together our engineering capability, the field success of the MAV, and our continuing R&D effort in a new-generation, heavy-class unmanned amphibious vehicle.”
Smart Damage Monitoring
Thanks to Nurol Teknoloji’s structural monitoring system, the İ-ZAHA U-MAV can assess damage to its own armor without relying on a crew’s judgement.
Through its sensor suite, the system can pinpoint where an impact occurs, determine its direction, and assess its severity in real time.
It calculates the affected area’s remaining structural capacity, tracks accumulated damage, and relays the information to the operator and the chain of command.
The resulting data can help commanders decide whether to maneuver to protect the weakened area, seek cover, continue the mission, or place the vehicle in a passive role.
To keep critical information available during a communications loss, the system retains data locally and transmits it once the connection is restored.
