Turkey's HAVELSAN Unveils AI Maritime Awareness System BLUEVISION, Already Deployed on Armed USV

Turkish defense solutions provider HAVELSAN has officially introduced BLUEVISION — an AI-powered maritime situational awareness system that adds a visual intelligence layer on top of existing radar and Automatic Identification System (AIS) infrastructure, helping crew members and operators identify, track, and assess hard-to-detect targets on the water.

Filling the Detection Gaps Left by Radar and AIS

Modern maritime operating environments are increasingly complex. Small vessels, floating debris, low-visibility contacts, and ships lacking reliable identification data are often difficult to spot in busy waterways or adverse weather conditions. While radar and AIS remain indispensable, they cannot provide a complete picture of surface activity.

HAVELSAN developed BLUEVISION to overlay visual perception capabilities on top of existing navigation and surveillance systems, enabling operators to identify potential threats more quickly.

Deployed on the SANCAR Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle

BLUEVISION is already in active use, deployed aboard the SANCAR armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), which is scheduled to enter Turkish Navy service in 2026. The system is integrated with HAVELSAN's ADVENT Combat Management System (CMS), supporting autonomous navigation and mission execution through real-time detection, tracking, and risk assessment. Under the SANCAR program led by Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), BLUEVISION has successfully completed collision avoidance and search-and-rescue-related test operations.

Core Technology: Multi-Source Sensor Fusion and All-Weather Detection

BLUEVISION combines electro-optical sensors, artificial intelligence, and sensor fusion technology into a single operational interface. Data from cameras, AIS, and other navigation systems are consolidated into one display, allowing operators to verify and respond without constantly switching between different data sources.

Key capabilities include:

• Target Detection and Tracking: Detects small vessels, buoys, floating objects, and persons in the water, using real-time image analysis to classify targets, estimate their positions, and flag items requiring attention.
• Track Generation: All detectable targets within the camera's field of view can be simultaneously tracked and presented as complete tracks containing position and risk information.
• All-Weather Operation: Compatible with thermal imagers and daytime cameras for 24/7 continuous operation, with digital information overlaid directly on live imagery.
• Digital Lookout Function: Alerts operators via visual and audio alarms when the system detects potential collision risks or navigational hazards.

Dual Military and Commercial Applications

On the military side, BLUEVISION supports safe navigation, collision avoidance decision-making, and tracking of unidentified maritime contacts — including detection of "dark boats" and visual verification of spoofed or tampered AIS data. Its passive electro-optical detection capability also supports covert navigation operations in scenarios where radar or active sensors are restricted.

In search-and-rescue and autonomous mission contexts, BLUEVISION automates the detection process, reducing operator fatigue from prolonged screen monitoring.

Expanding into Commercial Maritime

Beyond the SANCAR program, BLUEVISION has been integrated into RAFNAR vessels through partnerships with VN Maritime and Piloda Shipyard, and is being applied to commercial maritime scenarios such as container ships operating in complex navigational environments.

The system can be configured for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Search and Rescue (SAR), and submarine periscope observation missions. Its software architecture is designed to allow continuous feature additions as operational requirements evolve.

HAVELSAN states that BLUEVISION draws on the company's deep expertise in combat management systems, autonomous platforms, and maritime technology, with the aim of bringing AI-driven capabilities into everyday maritime operations and helping personnel at sea make better-informed decisions.

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