During the International Defence Equipment and Services Exhibition HEMUS 2026, held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, from 3–6 June 2026, Bulgarian shipbuilder MTG-Dolphin unveiled its Proteus 36 MLC concept, a 37-metre Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV).
MTG-Dolphin press release
PLOVDIV, BULGARIA – 3 June 2026 – The european shipbuilder MTG-Dolphin today officially presented its Proteus 36 MLC concept during the opening day of the International Defence Equipment and Services Exhibition “HEMUS 2026” Plovdiv. The 37-metre Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV), also available in manned option, attracted significant interest from international delegations, defence industry representatives, major equipment and sensor suppliers and naval experts.
A key highlight of the opening day was the official visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Ms. Iliyana Yotova and her Military Adviser viceadmiral Mitko Petev. They received a detailed briefing from MTG-Dolphin’s leadership team on the vessel’s capabilities and operational concept.
Designed for modern Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) and contested AntiAccess/Area Denial (A2/AD) environments, the Proteus 36 MLC delivers the combat capability of a conventional corvette within a highly efficient high-speed 160-ton modular platform equipped initially with 3D radar, fire control radar and 30mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and open deck for a number of 20 feet mission modules.
Depending on the situational awareness and the threat assessment the platform can accommodate a wide range of mission-specific payloads for AAW (Anti-Air Warfare), ASuW (Anti-Surface Warfare), ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare), EW (Electronic Warfare), MW (Mine Warfare) including both minelaying and Mine Countermeasures (MCM) and anti-drone protection. The payload allows to have onboard up to eight Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and other sophisticated naval systems.
“The Proteus 36 MLC is an autonomous-ready naval platform engineered to integrate seamlessly with advanced artificial intelligence, autonomous control systems, and swarm technologies,” said Mr. Svetlin Stoyanov, Executive Director of MTG-Dolphin. “The strong interest demonstrated by leading Bulgarian Military officials and our international partners on the opening day of HEMUS 2026 confirms the relevance of this capability and validates our strategic vision for the future of naval warfare.”
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Naval News comment
MTG-Dolphin is a European shipyard headquartered in Varna, Bulgaria, with more than 35 years of experience in shipbuilding and ship repair. The company specializes in the construction of complex, mission-critical vessels and patrol craft built to NATO standards.
In recent years, the shipyard has gained particular prominence through the construction of two Multi-Purpose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPV 90) for the Bulgarian Navy. These vessels are being configured to a light corvette standard regarding the armament and the electronic equipment, combining the endurance and versatility of an OPV with the combat capabilities typically associated with larger warships.
The 2,300-ton MMPV 90 corvettes are based on a design developed by the German shipbuilder NVL Group (formerly Lürssen Defence), part of the Naval Systems division of Rheinmetall AG (Rheinmetall acquired the Naval Vessels Lürssen on 1 March 2026). The program is being managed by NVL Group, while construction is carried out by MTG-Dolphin Shipyard in Varna, with the participation of numerous Bulgarian suppliers and subcontractors.
Some months ago, Romania announced its naval modernization program with the planned acquisition of four new vessels. Two of these will be large multipurpose offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) built to a light corvette standard, similar to Bulgaria’s procurement of the MMPV 90. Similarly to Bulgaria, Romania will built all vessels domestically at the Mangalia 2 Mai Shipyard under a newly established joint venture, led by Rheinmetall as the majority shareholder, with the Romanian state holding a minority stake.
The unveiling of the new design by MTG-Dolphin represents a significant step forward, highlighting Rheinmetall’s commitment to enhancing the shipyard’s infrastructure, production capacity, and technical expertise. By introducing a new platform tailored to future operational requirements, the company demonstrates its long-term investment in naval innovation and industrial development.
In terms of armament, Proteus 36 is carrying a 30mm SEASNAKE RWS in the forward position as standard equipment. The open aft deck demonstrates a high degree of modularity and firepower, with the ability to accommodate a wide range of weapon systems. The configuration shown includes up to 24 loitering munitions housed in one 24-cell launcher combined with the control room, alongside 40 surface-to-air missiles (SAM) carried in two 20-cell vertical launch system (VLS) modules. Alternative mission loadouts include a three-module arrangement comprising two triple 324mm torpedo launchers and two quadruple launchers carrying a total of eight NSM anti-ship missiles, while a two-container configuration can be employed for mine-laying operations.
The USV could also attract the interest of the Romanian Navy, particularly as Romania continues to modernize its naval capabilities and explore the integration of unmanned systems into future force structures. At the same time, Romanian shipyards may choose to leverage the experience and expertise gained through recent naval programs to develop a domestic design tailored to national operational requirements and the specific challenges of the Black Sea environment.
Interest in such a platform may not be limited to Romania. Other regional navies could also view the concept favorably, especially in light of the success of the MMPV 90 program, which demonstrated the ability of local industry to deliver modern and capable naval platforms. As unmanned surface vessels increasingly become a key component of maritime operations, ranging from surveillance and force protection to mine warfare and strike missions, a modular and heavily armed design such as this could prove attractive to countries seeking cost-effective ways to enhance their naval capabilities without investing in larger, more expensive manned combatants.
