Turkish ULAQ Global, Saudi SAMI Sign Unmanned Naval Systems Deal

Turkish defence firm ULAQ Global has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s SAMI Autonomous Company at the World Defence Show 2026 to jointly develop, produce, and integrate unmanned maritime systems in Saudi Arabia, supporting technology transfer, local production, and Vision 2030 goals.

Turkish defence company ULAQ Global Autonomous Systems, the manufacturer of Türkiye’s first unmanned surface vehicle (USV), has signed a cooperation agreement with SAMI Autonomous Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), to deepen collaboration in unmanned naval systems.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the World Defence Show (WDS) 2026 in Riyadh and is designed to establish a broad framework for cooperation. This framework will cover the design, development, production, system integration, and long-term maintenance of unmanned maritime systems within Saudi Arabia.
The partnership marks the first agreement of its kind in the unmanned naval systems sector in Saudi Arabia. It is expected to significantly enhance the kingdom’s maritime and defence capabilities, aligning closely with the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to localize defence production and expand advanced technological capacity.
Kerem Kalafatoglu, a member of ULAQ Global’s board of directors, told Anadolu Agency that the agreement places strong emphasis on joint development efforts, technology transfer, and the domestic production of unmanned surface vehicles. He noted that these priorities are central to ensuring long-term sustainability and capacity-building within Saudi Arabia’s defence industry.
Kalafatoglu added that ULAQ Global’s activities are not limited to Saudi Arabia, as the company continues to expand its presence worldwide. He said the initiative would create opportunities for sustainable profitability and that the company plans to export the ULAQ USV not only to Saudi Arabia but also to other international markets.
As part of the agreement, ULAQ Global will support domestic USV production in Saudi Arabia by transferring technical expertise and operational know-how gained over years of development and deployment. Kalafatoglu also highlighted that the company’s work is ongoing in Europe and the United States, underscoring ULAQ Global’s ambition to grow as a globally recognized player in the unmanned maritime systems sector, with expectations of further major developments in the near future.