Turkey’s new MARLIN EW 100 unmanned surface vessel (USV) has completed sea trials and is now being readied for entry into the Turkish Naval Forces.
Under the supervision of the Naval Forces Command, the vessel’s electronic warfare (EW) suite and weapon systems underwent full activation and evaluation.
Officials said the MARLIN will support electronic warfare, reconnaissance, surveillance, and defense missions under Turkey’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine.
Once operational, the MARLIN EW 100 is expected to bolster Turkey’s unmanned maritime fleet and expand its electronic warfare reach at sea.
Preparations for formal acceptance into service are underway, though no deployment schedule has been announced.
Developed by Aselsan and Sefine Shipyard, the vessel is designed for base, port, and critical infrastructure protection as well as amphibious operations.
Built around Aselsan’s in-house autonomy architecture, the MARLIN can operate independently or in hybrid swarm and joint missions with other unmanned and manned assets.
For navigation and connectivity, it features advanced communication and positioning systems, including the KARETTA anti-jam Global Navigation Satellite System.
Its modular design allows rapid reconfiguration for different mission payloads, boosting adaptability across operational scenarios.
Key systems include inertial navigation, dynamic positioning, and active stabilization, alongside radar, Automatic Identification System, and forward-looking sonar.
The 15-meter (49-foot) USV measures 3.85 meters (12.6 feet) in width, displaces 21 tons (21,000 kilograms), and can reach speeds above 35 knots (40 miles/65 kilometers per hour) with an endurance of up to 72 hours.
