Founded in 2012 by a small team with the goal of “ending the Turkish Naval Forces’ dependence on foreign suppliers for underwater acoustic systems,” ARMELSAN Defence Technologies has since become one of Türkiye’s leading defence technology companies. At IDEF ‘25, ARMELSAN showcased its underwater acoustic systems and KAŞİF X-Large Work-Class Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROVs) at booth 1-C07.

At the exhibition, ARMELSAN highlighted Türkiye’s first indigenous dipping sonar, the ORKUN-2053 Helicopter Dipping Sonar. Prior to the event, the company had integrated the towed version of this sonar onto the MİR Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV)—developed in cooperation with SEFİNE Shipyard and ASELSAN—and commenced the initial sea trials. The MİR USV also features integration of the ARAS-2023 Diver Detection Sonar and Sonobuoy Launchers. Developed by ARMELSAN, the ORKUN-2053 operates in the 3–5 kHz frequency range, can reach depths of 500+ meters, and weighs 100 kilograms. Within the scope of cooperation with the Turkish Naval Forces Command (TNFC), the system will be installed on an AB212 helicopter for a series of test activities. The ARAS-2023 Diver Detection Sonar, which has already been integrated into the TCG Anadolu LHD and several surface platforms in the TNFC inventory—including the under-construction MİLGEM 6–12 İSTİF-Class Frigates—was also among the underwater acoustic systems presented at the ARMELSAN booth with scale models. Other showcased systems included the MELİS-2071 Hull-Mounted Sonar System (FERSAH, developed in cooperation with ASELSAN)—selected for the BARBAROS-Class Frigate Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) and MİLGEM İSTİF-Class Frigates—and the NUSRET-1915 Mine Countermeasure Sonar System, which has a hull-mounted configuration. Another highlight at the booth was the KAŞİF X-Large, the largest member of the KAŞİF Work-Class ROV family, making its debut at this exhibition. ARMELSAN’s KAŞİF Work-Class ROV has already proven itself as a domestically developed underwater robot utilized on Turkish Petroleum Corporation’s (TPAO) FATİH, Kanuni ve Abdülhamit Han Drilling Ships in the Sakarya Gas Field of the Black Sea.