Ukrainian company WINFLY has developed a cooperation concept with FORTMOSA, a young Taiwanese company that builds HDPE (high-density polyethylene) workboats. The boats are lightweight, resistant to impact and corrosion, and do not crack in freezing temperatures, while foam-filled pontoons make them virtually unsinkable.
The partnership aims to combine WINFLY’s unmanned technologies and autonomy systems with FORTMOSA’s marine platforms and maritime expertise. The first joint concept and product mock-ups were presented in early October at the Taichung Smart Manufacturing Show in Taichung, Taiwan. The first result of the cooperation is expected to be a boat that carries interceptor drones.
WINFLY defines the boat’s requirements together with end users, based on their specific missions. FORTMOSA then develops the design and builds a prototype, while WINFLY equips it with autonomy systems and drones of various types. The system is to be complemented by detection assets, including passive radars that pick up radio signals and optical stations for day and night target verification.
The complex is seen as a perimeter protection system operating from the water. It can guard water areas and coastlines and intercept aerial targets from the water. Going forward, the parties are considering a line of multi-purpose unmanned boats capable of carrying different types of drones.