MARLIN USV, developed by ASELSAN and Sefine Shipyards, has demonstrated its capability to autonomously detect and identify drifting mines with optics.
In addition to the recent UAV-USV teaming demonstration for the hard-kill of drifting mines which paired MARLIN with STM's UAVs, the USV has demonstrated its onboard detection and identification capabilities supported by AI, during the Innovation Continuum 2025 SHINE event held by NATO.
The demonstration included MARLIN's autonomous detection and identification of a drifting mine, supported by deep learning according to Anadolu Agency News' report.
Drifting mines in the Black Sea, due to their numbers and unpredictable routes, are regarded as a significant threat to civilian ships in the Black Sea.
Mine Countermeasures is within MARLIN's planned operational concept. The later stages of mine countermeasure capabilities will include suitable payloads such as towed sonars or UUVs. The USV also has provision for anti-submarine warfare equipment such as lightweight torpedo launchers mounted on hull extensions or sonobuoys.
In the near future, MARLIN is expected to test-fire ROKETSAN's ÇAKIR cruise missile which will mark the first surface launch test from a naval platform. IDEF2025 was a scene to the unveiling of MARLIN equipped with 2x2 ÇAKIR launcher as well as the surface-launched ÇAKIR itself.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
