Defence Express reports that a Ukrainian-built, AI-equipped automatic weapon turret was recently tested aboard a NATO warship. The system is produced by UGV Robotics and is referred to as the "Hizsak" ("Predator").
Originally fielded on Ukraine’s front lines against Russian drones and other targets, the "Hizsak" has now been trialled by an unnamed NATO member on one of its warships to evaluate its capability against unmanned aerial and surface threats. Published photos suggest the trials likely took place in France on the deck of a La Fayette‑class frigate, although the alliance has not publicly confirmed the participating state.
Context: drone threats and the 2025 REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger exercise
The move follows concerns raised by the growing drone threat and by the 2025 REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger exercise in Portugal, where Ukrainian unmanned surface vehicles inflicted significant damage on NATO ships, highlighting the vulnerability of traditional warships to modern autonomous threats. Those events have prompted navies to explore new shipboard countermeasures.
Technical details and manufacturer claims
UGV Robotics’ "Hizsak" can be armed with a 7.62 mm machine gun and integrates a thermal camera, daylight optics, a laser rangefinder, a ballistic computer, and AI‑based target recognition and tracking. A built‑in gyroscopic stabilisation system allows accurate firing while the host platform is in motion.
The manufacturer states the turret holds 750 rounds and, with precise targeting and short bursts under ideal conditions, could destroy “more than a hundred” drones on a single reload. Effective engagement ranges depend on target type and can reach up to about 800 metres.
Platforms and open questions
According to UGV Robotics, the "Hizsak" can be mounted not only on ships but also on Magura‑type unmanned surface vessels, ground robotic platforms, vehicles, and helicopters.
No public information has yet been released about the test outcomes or whether France—or any other NATO member—intends to procure the turrets for ship self‑defence.
(This article was prepared with assistance from an AI tool; the final content was edited and verified by our journalist.)
