“Triumph of Innovation: Havelsan, VN Maritime, and Piloda Defence Forge Alliance for Cutting-Edge Surface Platforms in Italy”

In a significant expansion of their collaboration, Piloda Shipyard, in partnership with a prominent Turkish boat builder, is set to develop Unmanned and Hybrid Surface Vessel platforms for the Italian Coast Guard and other government entities. The production of these innovative vessels will take place at Piloda facilities.

Through its Piloda Defence division, Piloda Shipyard has entered a strategic agreement with Havelsan and VN Maritime Technologies. This partnership focuses on the development, marketing, integration, and delivery of hybrid surface vessels capable of manned, unmanned, or mixed-mode operations. The hybrid platforms will be produced at Piloda and VN Maritime facilities, with operational bases in Naples, Brindisi, and Torre Annunziata.

This agreement signifies a notable evolution in an existing industrial partnership. The collaboration initiated in 2025 when Piloda Shipyard and VN Maritime commenced the joint production of 40 fifteen-meter vessels for the General Command of the Port Captaincies Corps – Coast Guard, valued at approximately €159.2 million. The latest agreement broadens the scope, targeting hybrid and unmanned platforms for the Guardia di Finanza and other Italian governmental and security agencies.

Hybrid Vessels: Versatile Operational Modes

The core of this partnership revolves around the hybrid vessel concept, enabling operations in manned, unmanned, or mixed modes without requiring any structural alterations. This versatility culminates in true multi-role capabilities, facilitating a diverse range of missions—everything from autonomous surveillance and coordinated swarm operations to fully manned patrols, search and rescue, transport, and boarding activities.

Moreover, the hybrid design effectively addresses regulatory needs, particularly in the context of the current lack of comprehensive international legislation governing fully autonomous vessels. This innovation allows immediate operational deployment by Italian authorities, with the option to include personnel as required by specific circumstances or regulations. A fully operational prototype has already been showcased and evaluated at the international Seafuture 2025 exhibition, held at La Spezia’s Military Arsenal.

Advanced Hull Technology: Stability and Performance

The platforms leverage the patented ÖK Hull technology, originally licensed from Rafnar, an Icelandic company, and further upgraded by VN Maritime. This innovative hull design minimizes slamming impact by up to 95% compared to traditional V-hulls, offering substantial operational benefits—such as an extended vessel lifespan, reduced maintenance needs, and enhanced comfort for both crew and equipment.

Stability plays a crucial role in onboard system effectiveness. The submerged underwater sensors guarantee a continuous data flow, while weapon and surface surveillance systems—including cameras, searchlights, and electro-optical sensors—experience reduced stabilization demands, eliminating the necessity for additional stabilizers.

Defined Roles of the Partners and Focus on the Italian Market

Each partner in this alliance has a clearly defined role. Piloda Defence acts as both the production hub and system integrator within Italy, capitalizing on over 15 years of experience in providing technical support to Coast Guard and Guardia di Finanza units.

HAVELSAN, a global leader in advanced defense software solutions, contributes a robust portfolio in autonomous systems. With its “Digital Troops” concept, HAVELSAN has successfully deployed unmanned air, land, and naval platforms within the Turkish Armed Forces, providing valuable operational insights. This partnership aims to enhance joint production and industrial collaboration while pushing the boundaries of next-generation hybrid maritime platforms.

VN Maritime Technologies excels in naval design and high-performance hull technology, tailoring its designs to meet the operational demands of Italian institutions.

Strategic Goals and Future Perspectives

The alliance aims to finalize its first purchase order by the first half of 2026. The initiative encompasses the development of various sizes and configurations, targeting defence, maritime security, and environmental monitoring applications for agencies engaged in marine environmental protection. The overarching goal is to bolster the fleets of Italian authorities with cutting-edge platforms produced on national soil.

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“Our mission extends beyond vessel manufacturing; we are committed to fostering an industrial model that integrates advanced skills and technologies into Italy, reinforcing our local production capabilities. The partnership with VN Maritime accelerates our development of sophisticated platforms, including unmanned solutions, while adhering to our long-standing commitment to manufacturing excellence. Although these products are still in the pre-commercial phase, we believe the strength of our projects and our vast experience in technical support will enable us to fulfill large-scale production effectively. Piloda Defence is the first entity to establish an exclusive agreement with Havelsan, highlighting the trajectory of our partnership in the institutional defense sector.”

Donato Di Palo, CEO of Piloda Shipyard and Co-Founder of Piloda Group

“This partnership embodies a natural progression of our dedication to high-performance maritime platforms. By integrating VN Maritime’s advanced hull design with HAVELSAN’s autonomy expertise and Piloda’s industrial capabilities, we are introducing a new era of surface vessels that are not only technologically sophisticated but also ready for real-world application. Our objective is clear: to deliver reliable, mission-ready platforms that address the evolving needs of Italian and European institutions.”

Ahmet Yasin Erdogan, Director of B&D and Co-Founder of VN Maritime Technologies.

“Autonomy is not merely about eliminating the operator from the vessel but enhancing mission efficiency through real-time situational awareness and control. Our focus within this partnership is to integrate advanced command and control systems, autonomous navigation, and sensor fusion technologies into a reliable maritime platform. By combining VN Maritime’s hull performance with Piloda’s production strengths, we aim to develop hybrid vessels that can operate securely, efficiently, and compatibly within modern naval and security settings.”

Deniz Remzi Dumlu, C4ISR Director, Naval Surface Platforms