BEIRUT — Turkish software specialist Havelsan is joining with shipbuilder VN Maritime as it expands its work with Italy’s Piloda Defence to coproduce unmanned and hybrid surface vessels in Italy, the companies announced today.
VN Maritime and Piloda already work together after launching a joint production for 40 15-meter (50-foot) manned vessels for the Italian coast guard, but now Havelsan is joining to help make “hybrid and unmanned platforms” for Italian law enforcement, with “other Italian government and security institutions as potential end users,” according to a press release circulated by Havelsan. Production will take place at Piloda facilities in Naples, Brindisi and Torre Annunziata, the companies said.
The agreement includes development, marketing, integration and delivery of the USVs and hybrid vessels which can be configured for both manned and unmanned operations.
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The agreement divides production between the three firms: Piloda will provide its shipyard infrastructure to build the vessel and integrate the systems, Havelsan is the technology partner providing the autonomy software, and VN maritime will provide the design and hull technology for the venture.
“The three partners are targeting the signing of the first purchase order in the first half of 2026,” the announcement said. “The cooperation provides for the development of variants of different sizes and configurations, with applications ranging from defence and maritime security to environmental monitoring, including for agencies responsible for marine environmental protection. The objective is to strengthen the fleets of Italian institutions with next-generation platforms manufactured on national territory.”
Serhat Süha Çubukçuoğlu, an expert at TRENDS Research & Advisory in Abu Dhabi, said the new agreement suggested a transition in Havelsan’s operations “from a domestic software integrator to a premier, NATO-grade solutions provider for the European maritime market.”
He added that “this alliance is not merely a technical partnership, but a significant validation of Turkish intellectual property.
“By integrating Havelsan’s autonomous navigation, sensor fusion, and AI-enabled perception capabilities into European-designed platforms, the cooperation establishes a reliable, battle-proven solution for NATO members operating in a volatile regions like the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean,” he said.
He added that “European partnerships are particularly vital as they provide a localized industrial framework to navigate political and regulatory complexities, opening doors to EU-supported defense initiatives like the SAFE and ReArm Europe programs.”
SAFE, the Security Action for Europe and ReArm Europe programs are European Union programs dedicated to boost the alliances defense readiness.
The agreement is only the latest coproduction arrangement for Havelsan. In March 2025 the company joined forces with Egypt’s Kader Factory for Developed Industries to produce unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) in Egypt.
