Turkish shipbuilder unveils new Predator, Dagger interceptors PHOTO

Turkish shipbuilder Ares Shipyard, known for its ULAQ unmanned surface vessel and fast patrol boat solutions, unveiled the Predator and Dagger variants of its ARES 32 interceptor vessel on January 24, 2023.

ARES Shipyard, well known for its fast and robust naval vessels, has revealed a new generation interceptor solution that will dramatically change the perceptions of interception in the naval operations theatre, Naval News reports.

The new 32-meter interceptors have over 45 knots of speed and very high maneuvering capabilities for fast interception and hit & run missions up to Sea State-6 conditions. With a range of 2.000 nautical miles, the vessels have an operational coverage of more than Exclusive Economic Zones, challenging the existing fast attack craft solutions in the inventories of navies and coastal security institutions.

ARES 32 interceptors have been developed in two variants with identical designs according to the payloads onboard.

ARES 32 PREDATOR is configured with ROKETSAN’s new generation, two single-canister CAKIR cruise missiles with an effective range of over 150 km, in addition to quad-cell shorter-range L-UMTAS laser-guided missiles, where the DAGGER variant is equipped with two quad-cell infrared/laser-guided missiles for relatively shorter-range targets.

Both ARES 32 PREDATOR & DAGGER variants have 25 mm or 30 mm remote controlled auto stabilized naval weapon systems on the fore deck for closer range sea or land targets. Furthermore, two 12.7 mm machine guns are located on the upper deck for asymmetric threats such as pirates, smugglers or illegal human traffickers.

ARES 32 PREDATOR & DAGGER craft have the latest technology combat management systems, X and S-Band radars, electro-optic surveillance and designation systems and a RHIB with a ramp on the aft deck for boarding and SAR missions. Thanks to the state-of-the-art design solution of ARES, the vessels have very low RCS and infrared signature as a self-defense figure by nature.

“We have developed ARES 32 PREDATOR and DAGGER in response to two solid and serious inquiries from Middle East and Africa where the end users are confidential at the moment. Thanks to our immense experience in fast & robust naval solutions, ARES 32 interceptors are soon going to be the new game changers in naval operations theatre. With these new generation interceptors, we will change the perceptions of interception, challenging the existing fast attack craft solutions in collaboration with the Turkish missile manufacturer ROKETSAN.”