Turkish firm ULAQ signs Saudi deal for unmanned naval systems production

Türkiye's leading unmanned maritime systems manufacturer, ULAQ Global Autonomous Systems, has entered into a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia's SAMI Autonomous Company—a subsidiary of the kingdom's Public Investment Fund—to collaborate on the design, development, and production of unmanned surface vessels. The agreement was formalized at the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh.

Comprehensive Technology Transfer Framework

The landmark deal establishes a comprehensive cooperation framework encompassing system integration, maintenance, and domestic manufacturing of USVs within Saudi Arabia. It represents the first agreement of its kind in the naval defense sector signed in the kingdom and aligns directly with Riyadh's Vision 2030 objectives to localize military production capabilities. ULAQ Global will transfer years of accumulated technical expertise to enable indigenous Saudi manufacturing of unmanned maritime systems.

Global Export Ambitions

Kerem Kalafatoglu, a ULAQ Global board member, told Anadolu that the partnership prioritizes joint development and technology transfer while opening new export corridors. "Our business activities are ongoing not only with Saudi Arabia but worldwide," Kalafatoglu stated. "This initiative offers us the opportunity to generate sustainable profits, and we aim to export the ULAQ USV not only to Saudi Arabia but also to the rest of the world." He confirmed ongoing negotiations in European and U.S. markets, signaling broader global expansion ahead.