Türkiye’s defense industry is rapidly expanding its footprint in the global unmanned surface vehicle (USV) market, building on the international success it has already achieved with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). With growing demand for autonomous naval platforms, Turkish companies are securing new export contracts and positioning the country as a competitive supplier not only of complete USV platforms but also of high-value subsystems and payloads.
The Turkish defense ecosystem designs and manufactures state-of-the-art USVs that are already in service with domestic security forces. These platforms are increasingly gaining attention abroad due to their advanced software, autonomous operational capabilities, and ability to carry a wide range of payloads, including sensors, communications systems, and weapons. Industry officials say this combination of platform maturity and flexible mission configurations is driving strong interest from allied and partner nations.
A major milestone in this effort was achieved by Ares Shipyard and ULAQ Global, which completed Türkiye’s first export of armed USVs to the Qatar Coast Guard. The ULAQ armed USV, capable of autonomous navigation and remote operation, represented a technological leap for Turkish naval unmanned systems. Its deployment in Qatar significantly enhanced the system’s technological maturity, while positive feedback from the end user helped validate its operational effectiveness in real-world maritime security missions.
According to industry sources, the successful export and operational use of ULAQ played a decisive role in boosting international demand. Interest has since emerged from multiple regions, as prospective customers seek proven systems that can enhance coastal surveillance, force protection, and asymmetric warfare capabilities without placing crews at risk.
Ares Shipyard and ULAQ Global have been conducting business development activities with allied countries under the framework of Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry. Negotiations are currently underway with several Gulf countries for different variants of the ULAQ family, which offers an array of capabilities ranging from intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to armed escort and combat missions. Parallel efforts are also ongoing in the Asia-Pacific region, where defense modernization programs and rising maritime security concerns are creating new opportunities. Industry representatives expect additional export deals to be announced throughout 2026.
Beyond complete platforms, Türkiye is also diversifying its defense exports through new USV-related contracts focused on subsystems and enabling technologies. Turkish defense firm Onur Yüksek Teknoloji (OYT) recently received a $1.4 million order to develop an integrated voice and data communications system for USVs. The system is being produced for a domestic customer, with final delivery planned abroad. This contract represents an expansion of a previous project successfully completed by OYT with the same customer, highlighting continuity and trust in Turkish technological solutions.
At the same time, defense giant Aselsan has signed export contracts worth a total of $171 million with Asia-Pacific customers. These agreements cover the direct sale of communications systems and payloads designed for USVs. The most notable aspect of these contracts is the export of high-value payloads rather than only complete platforms. Drawing on experience gained from programs such as Marlin, Sancar, and ULAQ, Turkish defense companies are now entering the global market with the “brains” of unmanned systems—sensors, communications suites, and weapons integration packages.
Industry analysts note that sensors, communications, and weapons systems constitute the core economic and strategic value of USVs. Türkiye’s ability to export these payloads directly to the Asia-Pacific market demonstrates that its technologies have reached a level of global competitiveness. Moreover, OYT’s $1.4 million order underscores the strength of prime–subcontractor relationships within the Turkish defense sector. As domestic shipyards export USVs abroad, subsystem manufacturers are increasingly gaining access to international markets, reinforcing Türkiye’s position across the entire unmanned naval value chain.
