Türkiye’s domestically developed MALAMAN smart bottom mine was deployed during the multinational Nusret 2026 mine warfare exercise, marking another operational milestone for the system.
Hosted by Türkiye from October 6 to 16 in the Gulf of Izmir and off Karadeniz Ereğli in the Black Sea, the Nusret 2026 Invitation Exercise provided the operational backdrop for the demonstration. During the exercise, a MALAMAN mine was seen being laid from the Turkish Navy’s Tuzla-class patrol boat TCG Karabiga (P-1205). Wrapped in artificial grass camouflage designed to mimic seabed vegetation, the mine was launched into the water from the ship’s stern.
MALAMAN was developed through a joint defense industry effort involving KoçSavunma, MKE, and TÜBİTAK SAGE to address the Turkish Navy’s modern mine warfare requirements.
According to details released by the Turkish Ministry of National Defence, Nusret 2026 brings together 20 naval vessels, five aircraft, and various unmanned systems. Turkish Naval Forces, Air Force, and Coast Guard units are participating alongside NATO and partner nations.
Key participant groups include NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2)—with assets from Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Türkiye—and the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group, featuring ships from Bulgaria, Romania, and Türkiye. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) teams from the United States, Belgium, the Netherlands, Kuwait, Romania, and Oman are also participating, alongside 32 international military observers. The exercise focuses on the planning, execution, and evaluation of mine warfare operations, emphasizing interoperability in multi-threat environments.
Previous deployment from MARLIN USV
MALAMAN’s deployment at Nusret 2026 follows mine-laying trials involving MARLIN, reported by Naval News in August. Those trials included mine releases in both remotely controlled and autonomous modes.
The integration scope included designing a custom mine carriage and release apparatus, alongside mission-planning software algorithms tailored for autonomous mine-laying operations. MARLIN was jointly developed by Sefine Shipyard and ASELSAN under the coordination of Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB). As the Turkish Navy’s flagship operational USV, MARLIN has also been configured for anti-surface (ASuW), anti-submarine (ASW), and electronic warfare (EW) operations.
About the MALAMAN Smart Mine
MALAMAN is a seabed/bottom mine equipped with acoustic, magnetic and pressure sensors for target detection and classification. Its electronic module and smart firing mechanism process these inputs to determine whether a passing vessel meets programmed engagement criteria.
According to information previously provided to Naval News by KoçSavunma, the mine can be programmed using ship counters to engage a selected vessel among others passing through the same area. Its casing and camouflage are designed to blend with the seabed, while its construction also incorporates measures to reduce acoustic detectability.
The mine is designed for deployment from surface vessels, submarines and aircraft. Its 533 mm diameter allows deployment through submarine torpedo tubes, and earlier activities have included fit checks aboard the Turkish Navy’s REIS-class submarines. The MARLIN trials subsequently demonstrated deployment from an unmanned surface platform.
MALAMAN was first displayed at IDEF 2023 and later exhibited at DSA 2024 in Malaysia. At DSA, KoçSavunma representatives told Naval News that the system had completed a functional demonstration in February 2024, including a live detonation at sea, and was undergoing final acceptance procedures.
Specifications presented at that exhibition listed a weight exceeding 600 kg, a length exceeding 1,800 mm and a plastic-bonded underwater explosive charge. The system was presented in both combat and exercise configurations.
