Turkish defense software company HAVELSAN and private shipbuilder CEMRE Shipyard have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop, produce, and market hybrid and submersible autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (H-USVs). The partnership marks a strategic step in Türkiye’s efforts to advance naval autonomy and deploy next-generation unmanned maritime platforms.
ÇAKA: A Hybrid Solution for Modern Naval Threats
At the center of the collaboration is HAVELSAN’s ÇAKA Hybrid Unmanned Surface Vehicle (H-USV), a versatile platform designed to operate both on the surface and underwater. Combining low observability, silent navigation, and submersible capability, ÇAKA leverages HAVELSAN’s expertise in autonomous systems, network-enabled operations, and unmanned technologies.
The vehicle builds upon HAVELSAN’s earlier concept of a high-speed kamikaze USV, which was first unveiled in prototype form during the IDEF 2023 defense exhibition. The ÇAKA platform is seen as a continuation and evolution of that vision, offering a multi-role unmanned naval asset capable of responding to evolving maritime security demands.
From Commercial Shipbuilding to Naval Platforms
CEMRE Shipyard, recognized for its zero-emission and methanol-fueled custom-built vessels in the European commercial sector, officially entered the defense industry in June 2025 by obtaining its Military Shipbuilding Certification. The partnership with HAVELSAN marks CEMRE’s first venture into unmanned military marine technologies.
Production-Ready Development in First Phase
The MoU, titled "Cooperation Protocol on the Design, Development, Production, and Marketing of Hybrid and Submersible Autonomous Unmanned Surface Vehicles," outlines a phased approach to the project. The initial focus is on delivering a production-ready version of the ÇAKA platform, with the potential for future variants and configurations to follow.
A Step Toward Operational Deployment
This strategic agreement not only reinforces HAVELSAN’s established position in autonomous naval technologies but also signals Türkiye’s growing ambition to field advanced unmanned systems in real-world maritime operations. By combining HAVELSAN’s technological capabilities with CEMRE’s industrial capacity, the collaboration aims to accelerate the deployment of high-performance unmanned maritime assets for national and international use.