Aselsan links up with Malaysian shipyard to develop USV

December 23, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

Turkish defense company Aselsan has signed a teaming agreement with Malaysian shipyard NAVAMAS to develop a mission-ready unmanned surface vessel (USV).

The partners signed the agreement on December 22, 2025. According to Aselsan, the USV will be tailored for Malaysia, including the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

The collaboration brings together ASELSAN’s advanced payload and autonomous technologies with NAVAMAS’ shipbuilding and system integration capabilities in Malaysia.

Together, the partners aim to enhance the country’s maritime surveillance, security, and defence readiness, while supporting local industry development, promoting technology transfer, and advancing long-term national maritime security objectives.

Aselsan has already developed unmanned surface vehicles. One of the company’s flagship platforms is the Marlin USV, a 15-meter unmanned surface vessel designed for multi-mission operations at sea. It can perform tasks such as electronic warfare (EW), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and other coordinated maritime missions with autonomous navigation and robust communications systems. Marlin has been showcased as a capable node for networked naval operations and has even been demonstrated with NATO interoperability in exercises.