MARTAC signs tripartite agreement to advance USV development in Taiwan

September 23, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

US company Maritime Tactical Systems (MARTAC) has entered into a strategic tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and Confucian Co., setting the stage for joint research, development, and co-production of next-generation smart unmanned surface vessels (USVs).

As disclosed, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to fostering sustainable industrial development and supporting the adoption of USVs in Taiwan.

Under the terms of the MOU, the three parties will:

Promote research and development in the Unmanned Surface Vehicle market;
Collaborate on joint production and technology-sharing initiatives;
Explore supply chain integration and workforce development opportunities;
Encourage knowledge exchange to enhance manufacturing competitiveness and
adoption.

“We are honored to partner with Taiwan’s NCSIST and Confucian, a leading Taiwan reseller, in this important initiative,” said Bruce Hanson, CEO of MARTAC.

“This agreement marks a significant milestone in advancing R&D and co-manufacturing collaboration initiative, and together we aim to bring MARTAC’s capabilities to Taiwan.”

“By working together, we can leverage each other’s strengths to build an ultra-high performance Unmanned Surface Vehicle capability with autonomous maritime obstacle avoidance and multi-role configurations that will open new opportunities for trade, investment and defense capabilities,” added VAMD Shi-Chiang Li, President of NCSIST.

National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) is a Taiwanese state-owned administrative corporation responsible for the development, manufacturing, support, and sustainment of various weapons systems and dual-use technologies.

Confucian was founded in 1973, and its team provides services such as trading, software development, system integration, and manufacturing, among other capabilities.