- Vatn Systems has partnered with Taiwan’s NCSIST to support naval modernization efforts
- The collaboration will focus on autonomous underwater vehicles and AI-enabled command-and-control technologies
- The agreement also aims to establish local sustainment and supply chain capabilities in Taiwan
Vatn Systems, a company that manufactures autonomous underwater vehicles, has partnered with Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, or NCSIST, to jointly pursue naval defense initiatives in support of the country’s Ministry of National Defense.
What Areas Will the Agreement Cover?
The defense technology company said Tuesday that, under the memorandum of understanding, the two organizations will collaborate to deploy AUVs, such as Vatn’s S12 system, and to develop artificial intelligence-enabled command-and-control capabilities. The collaboration is also intended to establish a Taiwan-based supply chain and sustainment infrastructure in support of the nation’s naval modernization initiatives.
Vatn Systems co-founder and CEO Nelson Mills, a speaker at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Navy Summit, said the arrangement provides an opportunity to explore how the company’s undersea technologies could support Taiwan’s defense requirements.
What Other Moves Has Vatn Made Recently?
The agreement follows a string of recent developments for the company as it builds out its undersea defense capabilities. In July, Vatn launched SIGURD, an unmanned mine countermeasure system developed on its Skelmir S6 system.
The company also acquired Crewless Marine in January, bringing acoustic sensing and signal processing technologies in-house as it sought to scale AUV production and support growing demand from U.S. and allied naval forces.
