Turkey Unveils 'İ-ZAHA' Unmanned Amphibious Vehicle for High-Risk Landings

Turkish defense contractor FNSS has introduced the 'İ-ZAHA,' an unmanned multi-purpose amphibious vehicle (U-MAV), at the TEKNOFEST aerospace and technology festival. This new development aims to revolutionize amphibious assault operations by deploying unmanned vehicles for the most dangerous initial stages of an attack.

The İ-ZAHA, weighing approximately 8 tons and featuring a four-wheel configuration, is engineered to remove human personnel from the immediate risks of the first wave of beach landings. FNSS plans for the vehicle to operate in a "manned-unmanned teaming" (MUM-T) formation alongside Turkey's current manned amphibious assault vehicles (MAV).

Capable of moving from sea to land, the İ-ZAHA has a top speed of 7 knots on water and can reach 70 km/h once ashore. Depending on the mission, it can be armed with machine guns for fire support, or equipped with mine-clearing equipment, electronic warfare systems, and anti-drone capabilities. These functions allow it to perform reconnaissance, clear paths, or neutralize threats before conventional forces land.

The vehicle incorporates advanced navigation and identification systems, including GNSS/INS, IFF modules, and AI-powered image processing for autonomous operations. A key feature is its modular design, allowing for rapid payload swaps in field conditions, enabling the same platform to switch between roles like fire support, mine clearing, electronic warfare, and anti-drone missions within about 40 minutes.

FNSS is increasing its investment in unmanned and autonomous vehicle technology, with the İ-ZAHA representing a significant step. By combining existing engineering expertise with new unmanned technologies, the company aims to create heavy-duty unmanned amphibious platforms. The goal is to deploy the İ-ZAHA into high-threat coastal areas first, thereby significantly reducing the risk of casualties for amphibious troops during initial landings.

“

The İ-ZAHA is designed to remove personnel from the highest risk of amphibious assault, and to form a "manned-unmanned teaming" (MUM-T) operational group with the MAV.