diff --git a/data/json/items/vehicle/controls.json b/data/json/items/vehicle/controls.json
index 3dda828dde67f..63ec8a5773d16 100644
--- a/data/json/items/vehicle/controls.json
+++ b/data/json/items/vehicle/controls.json
@@ -68,5 +68,17 @@
     "bashing": 1,
     "price": 20000,
     "copy-from": "vehicle_controls"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "GENERIC",
+    "id": "turret_controls",
+    "name": "turret control unit",
+    "description": "A set of motor, camera, and various electronic modules banded together to allow for tracking targets, friend-or-foe identification, and firing the connected turret in full automatic mode.",
+    "weight": "4000 g",
+    "color": "white",
+    "symbol": "&",
+    "volume": "9 L",
+    "price": 500000,
+    "copy-from": "vehicle_controls"
   }
 ]
diff --git a/data/json/recipes/recipe_vehicle.json b/data/json/recipes/recipe_vehicle.json
index 6a3f55cf95874..a90b5e5e95bb1 100644
--- a/data/json/recipes/recipe_vehicle.json
+++ b/data/json/recipes/recipe_vehicle.json
@@ -392,5 +392,27 @@
     "using": [ [ "welding_standard", 1 ] ],
     "qualities": [ { "id": "DRILL", "level": 3 } ],
     "components": [ [ [ "scrap", 2 ] ] ]
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "recipe",
+    "result": "turret_controls",
+    "category": "CC_OTHER",
+    "subcategory": "CSC_OTHER_VEHICLE",
+    "skill_used": "electronics",
+    "skills_required": [ [ "computer", 5 ], [ "mechanics", 3 ] ],
+    "difficulty": 5,
+    "time": "2 h",
+    "autolearn": true,
+    "using": [ [ "soldering_standard", 10 ] ],
+    "qualities": [ { "id": "SCREW", "level": 1 } ],
+    "tools": [ [ [ "laptop", -1 ] ] ],
+    "components": [
+      [ [ "targeting_module", 1 ] ],
+      [ [ "ai_module", 1 ] ],
+      [ [ "gun_module", 1 ] ],
+      [ [ "cable", 10 ] ],
+      [ [ "omnicamera", 1 ] ],
+      [ [ "robot_controls", 1 ] ]
+    ]
   }
 ]
diff --git a/data/json/vehicleparts/vehicle_parts.json b/data/json/vehicleparts/vehicle_parts.json
index a97fe8adb7a9c..c8602c7f7edcb 100644
--- a/data/json/vehicleparts/vehicle_parts.json
+++ b/data/json/vehicleparts/vehicle_parts.json
@@ -3100,5 +3100,31 @@
     "flags": [ "TURRET_MOUNT" ],
     "breaks_into": [ { "item": "scrap", "count": [ 1, 4 ] } ],
     "damage_reduction": { "all": 54 }
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "vehicle_part",
+    "id": "controls_turret",
+    "name": "turret control unit",
+    "symbol": "$",
+    "color": "yellow",
+    "broken_symbol": "$",
+    "broken_color": "red",
+    "damage_modifier": 10,
+    "durability": 50,
+    "epower": -250,
+    "item": "turret_controls",
+    "description": "A set of motor, camera, and an AI unit which allows for tracking targets, friend-or-foe identification, and firing the connected turret in full automatic mode.  When installed over the turret, it will enable auto targeting mode for said turret.",
+    "folded_volume": 3,
+    "flags": [ "ENABLED_DRAINS_EPOWER", "TURRET_CONTROLS", "UNMOUNT_ON_DAMAGE" ],
+    "requirements": {
+      "install": {
+        "time": 120000,
+        "skills": [ [ "mechanics", 3 ], [ "electronics", 3 ] ],
+        "qualities": [ { "id": "SCREW", "level": 1 } ]
+      },
+      "repair": { "skills": [ [ "mechanics", 2 ] ], "time": 8000, "using": [ [ "adhesive", 1 ] ] },
+      "removal": { "skills": [ [ "mechanics", 3 ] ], "qualities": [ { "id": "SCREW", "level": 1 } ] }
+    },
+    "breaks_into": "ig_vp_device"
   }
 ]
diff --git a/doc/JSON_FLAGS.md b/doc/JSON_FLAGS.md
index 4ea9d37de5214..3726bbbcb6ca5 100644
--- a/doc/JSON_FLAGS.md
+++ b/doc/JSON_FLAGS.md
@@ -1371,6 +1371,7 @@ Those flags are added by the game code to specific items (that specific welder,
 - ```TOWEL``` Can be used to dry yourself up.
 - ```TRACKED``` Contributes to steering effectiveness but doesn't count as a steering axle for install difficulty and still contributes to drag for the center of steering calculation.
 - ```TRACK``` Allows the vehicle installed on, to be marked and tracked on map.
+- ```TURRET_CONTROLS``` If part with this flag is installed over the turret, it allows to set said turret's targeting mode to full auto.
 - ```TURRET_MOUNT``` Parts with this flag are suitable for installing turrets.
 - ```TURRET``` Is a weapon turret. Can only be installed on a part with ```TURRET_MOUNT``` flag.
 - ```UNMOUNT_ON_DAMAGE``` Part breaks off the vehicle when destroyed by damage.
diff --git a/src/savegame_json.cpp b/src/savegame_json.cpp
index 3ec7879bf3f0f..e5b9d0687a866 100644
--- a/src/savegame_json.cpp
+++ b/src/savegame_json.cpp
@@ -2514,6 +2514,15 @@ void vehicle::deserialize( JsonIn &jsin )
 
     for( const vpart_reference &vp : get_any_parts( "TURRET" ) ) {
         install_part( vp.mount(), vpart_id( "turret_mount" ), false );
+
+        //Forcibly set turrets' targeting mode to manual if no turret control unit is present on turret's tile on loading save
+        if( !has_part( global_part_pos3( vp.part() ), "TURRET_CONTROLS" ) ) {
+            vp.part().enabled = false;
+        }
+        //Set turret control unit's state equal to turret's targeting mode on loading save
+        for( const vpart_reference &turret_part : get_any_parts( "TURRET_CONTROLS" ) ) {
+            turret_part.part().enabled = vp.part().enabled;
+        }
     }
 
     // Add vehicle mounts to cars that are missing them.
diff --git a/src/turret.cpp b/src/turret.cpp
index 874e8b367eab1..c25574c272647 100644
--- a/src/turret.cpp
+++ b/src/turret.cpp
@@ -292,12 +292,16 @@ void vehicle::turrets_set_targeting()
 {
     std::vector<vehicle_part *> turrets;
     std::vector<tripoint> locations;
+    std::vector<vehicle_part *> turret_controls;
 
     for( auto &p : parts ) {
-        if( p.base.is_gun() && !p.info().has_flag( "MANUAL" ) ) {
+        if( p.base.is_gun() ) {
             turrets.push_back( &p );
             locations.push_back( global_part_pos3( p ) );
         }
+        if( part_flag( index_of_part( &p ), "TURRET_CONTROLS" ) ) {
+            turret_controls.push_back( &p );
+        }
     }
 
     pointmenu_cb callback( locations );
@@ -312,8 +316,11 @@ void vehicle::turrets_set_targeting()
         menu.w_y = 2;
 
         for( auto &p : turrets ) {
-            menu.addentry( -1, true, MENU_AUTOASSIGN, "%s [%s]", p->name(),
-                           p->enabled ? _( "auto" ) : _( "manual" ) );
+            menu.addentry( -1, has_part( global_part_pos3( *p ), "TURRET_CONTROLS" ), MENU_AUTOASSIGN,
+                           "%s [%s]", p->name(), p->enabled ?
+                           _( "auto -> manual" ) : has_part( global_part_pos3( *p ), "TURRET_CONTROLS" ) ?
+                           _( "manual -> auto" ) :
+                           _( "manual (turret control unit required for auto mode)" ) );
         }
 
         menu.query();
@@ -322,7 +329,12 @@ void vehicle::turrets_set_targeting()
         }
 
         sel = menu.ret;
-        turrets[ sel ]->enabled = !turrets[ sel ]->enabled;
+        if( has_part( locations[ sel ], "TURRET_CONTROLS" ) ) {
+            turrets[sel]->enabled = !turrets[sel]->enabled;
+            turret_controls[sel]->enabled = turrets[sel]->enabled;
+        } else {
+            turrets[sel]->enabled = false;
+        }
 
         // clear the turret's current targets to prevent unwanted auto-firing
         tripoint pos = locations[ sel ];
@@ -381,7 +393,8 @@ bool vehicle::turrets_aim( bool manual, bool automatic, vehicle_part *tur_part )
     } ), last );
 
     if( opts.empty() ) {
-        add_msg( m_warning, _( "Can't aim turrets: all turrets are offline" ) );
+        add_msg( m_warning,
+                 _( "Can't aim turrets: all turrets are offline or set to manual targeting mode." ) );
         return false;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/veh_type.cpp b/src/veh_type.cpp
index dd665e618ed36..b65f3c85c9d0e 100644
--- a/src/veh_type.cpp
+++ b/src/veh_type.cpp
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ static const std::unordered_map<std::string, vpart_bitflags> vpart_bitflag_map =
     { "FLUIDTANK", VPFLAG_FLUIDTANK },
     { "REACTOR", VPFLAG_REACTOR },
     { "RAIL", VPFLAG_RAIL },
+    { "TURRET_CONTROLS", VPFLAG_TURRET_CONTROLS },
 };
 
 static const std::vector<std::pair<std::string, veh_ter_mod>> standard_terrain_mod = {{
diff --git a/src/veh_type.h b/src/veh_type.h
index 297ac9e27e640..b872fd460719e 100644
--- a/src/veh_type.h
+++ b/src/veh_type.h
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ enum vpart_bitflags : int {
     VPFLAG_FLUIDTANK,
     VPFLAG_REACTOR,
     VPFLAG_RAIL,
+    VPFLAG_TURRET_CONTROLS,
 
     NUM_VPFLAGS
 };
diff --git a/src/vehicle.cpp b/src/vehicle.cpp
index b5275e7827b82..e0d522bbc10c2 100644
--- a/src/vehicle.cpp
+++ b/src/vehicle.cpp
@@ -1381,6 +1381,20 @@ bool vehicle::can_mount( const point &dp, const vpart_id &id ) const
         }
     }
 
+    //Turret controls must be installed on a turret
+    if( part.has_flag( "TURRET_CONTROLS" ) ) {
+        bool anchor_found = false;
+        for( const auto &elem : parts_in_square ) {
+            if( part_info( elem ).has_flag( "TURRET" ) ) {
+                anchor_found = true;
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        if( !anchor_found ) {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
     //Anything not explicitly denied is permitted
     return true;
 }
@@ -5289,6 +5303,9 @@ void vehicle::refresh()
         } else if( !camera_on && vpi.has_flag( "CAMERA" ) ) {
             vp.part().enabled = false;
         }
+        if( vpi.has_flag( "TURRET" ) && !has_part( global_part_pos3( vp.part() ), "TURRET_CONTROLS" ) ) {
+            vp.part().enabled = false;
+        }
     }
 
     rail_wheel_bounding_box.p1 = point( railwheel_xmin, railwheel_ymin );